UAE’s Ahmed Skaik moves to joint second in individual division

The UAE remain in fifth position behind Qatar after a third-round score of 228, their best team performance of the week by eight shots, thanks to counting scores of 71 (Skaik), 74 (Yousuf) and 83 (both by Qubaisi and Al Helou).

The UAE’s Ahmed Skaik moved up the individual leaderboard with a gross 71 to be tied second after improving his previous day’s score for the second time. Skaik stood on the 17th tee having had five birdies and a double bogey on the par 3, fourth hole. The round could have been even better but for dropped shots on both holes 17 and 18, which are the ninth and first most difficult holes respectively this week on the Karl Litten-designed course that was enhanced in 2010 by David Jones.

The UAE playing captain Khalid Yousuf, after the round, said: “The weather for us all on the front nine was windy as it has been all week, but then it suddenly brightened up and the wind dropped, so the later starters had a distinct advantage, which unfortunately was not our UAE team today. We will all do our best tomorrow, we are 14 shots behind fourth and six ahead of sixth. All four of us in the UAE team scored our best rounds of the week so far, which can only be good news for moving day. We hope Ahmed can achieve a prominent podium finish.”

Faisal Salhab (Saudi Arabia) remains at the top of the Individual leaderboard after a third round of 70, adding to his first two rounds both of level par 72, giving him a six shot lead with 18 holes to play from Skaik and Al Kaabi (Qatar).

The final round of the 2021 Arab Golf Championship will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) with the individual winner receiving the Arab Golf Championship gold medal and an invitation to play in the DP World Tour’s $3 million Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital to be held at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, from February 3-6. There are also silver and bronze medals up for grabs for second and third places in the individual division.

There is a lot to play for in both the team event and individual division tomorrow (Wednesday) at the 40th edition of the Arab Golf Championship.