Dubai: The UAE’s Rayan Ahmed is set to compete in the world’s most prestigious amateur tournament, the US Amateur Championship, after the youngster finished top of qualifying at Columbine Country Club.
The 17-year-old, who has represented the UAE since last year, was the youngest player in the field in Denver but belied his age to finish top of the pile with a round of 69, which included four birdies and one bogey.
Ahmed hit an impressive 13 Greens in Regulation and holed several long putts en route to medallist honours, which saw him secure one of the six qualifying places to next month’s US Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club and Chaska Town Course.
The tournament is considered among the most difficult of all USGA championships to win, with 64 from around 312 participants qualifying for the match play competition following two rounds of stroke play. All match play matches are played over 18 holes except for the final, which consists of 36 holes.
The Championship’s winner will secure exemptions into next year’s US Open, Open Championship and Masters Tournament. Previous winners include Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau.
"When I landed in the US last week, I had a challenging start at the Torrey Pines IMG Junior tournament as I just couldn't putt,” Ahmed told Gulf News.
“I was so jet lagged and tired. For the next week, as I moved from San Diego to Phoenix to Denver, I kept working on my swing, putting stroke and short game. I spent hours at different ranges, getting my swing and composure back.
“I was a little overwhelmed when I practised with other top players yesterday in Denver, yet I really got into the groove.
“Today I drove really well, averaging over 320 yards off the tee, made the greens, made the up and downs. I was in the zone and what really clicked was my putting. I holed everything.”
It will be the first time the UAE has been represented in the tournament’s 129-year history and comes after Ahmed also secured entry into the US Junior Amateur Championship, which begins on Monday, and the Junior PGA Championship as one of the leading players under the age of 18 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
“I am really happy with where my game is, and I’m looking forward to the three big tournaments (US Junior Amateur, Junior PGA and US Amateur).
“I am so happy to raise the flag for UAE as the first participant in both US Junior Amateur and now the US Amateur. I am really grateful to my parents for supporting me all the way through my ups and downs.”
The US Amateur will be played from August 12-18, 2024.
