Marta Silchenko (JGE) shot a three under par gross 69 over the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates to win the 2023 Jumeirah Golf Estates Junior Open.
51 players competed in this event that is part of the 2022 – 2023 Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Boys and Girls Order of Merits. The event was open to both boys and girls aged 18 and under on the day of the event.
The overall champion Marta, who has just turned 18 years of age, and plays off a +4 handicap, won on the first extra hole on hole 18 of Fire with a birdie four after a three-way tie after 18 holes with Rayan Ahmed (Montgomerie GC) and Viktor Kofod-Olsen (EGC).
Marta’s round started on tee one with a birdie three and a bogey on hole four saw her to the turn in level par 36.
A strong back nine of five birdies including two birdie twos on holes 11 and 14, three pars and a single bogey on hole 17.
Following the play-off Marta said, ‘I have been playing golf 10 years since we moved to Dubai from Latvia just six months ago. I want to especially thank my coaches: Michael Sweenie my short game coach, Scott Cowx in Canada my long game coach and Davis Puksts, my childhood coach. In the play-off against the two boys my adrenaline was really flowing and I hit the par five green in two and two putted after a poor first putt and holed an eight footer to win. This is my biggest win in Dubai, having previously shot a 65 at JGE to win the Luckiest Ball on Earth Qualifier as part of the DP World Tour Championship event.’
Marta is a student in her final year at Lycee International Georges Pompidou in Dubai.
She will move to the US in August later in the year to take up her golf scholarship at Oklahoma State University.
The boys played from the Signature Tees playing at 6,507 yards and the girls played from the Orange Tees measuring 5,619 yards.
11 golf clubs were represented from the UAE plus EGF members and two overseas players.
Results
Overall Champion:
M. Silchenko (JGE) 69
Boy’s Gross:
R. Ahmed (Montgomerie GC) 69
V. Kofod-Olsen (EGC) 69 (countback)
Boy’s Net:
J. Martinaitis (5, Prestige Golfshire) 68
J. Feliu (3, The Els Club) 70
Girl’s Gross:
H. C. Alan (EGC) 72
A. Saleem (JGE) 75
Girl’s Net:
D. Kim (10, Jumeirah Golf Estates) 68
I. Kim (17, Jumeirah Golf Estates) 74
