UAE Golfers Gear Up for Historic Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Home Turf
Dubai: Golf in the UAE is poised for a landmark moment as a record five Emirati golfers prepare to represent the nation at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), set to take place from October 23 to 26 on the iconic Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.
The national contingent — Ahmad Skaik, Rayan Ahmad, Abdulla Kalbat, Jonathan Selvaraj, and Sam Mullane — will compete against the region’s top amateur golfers in what promises to be one of the most significant tournaments ever staged in the country. The 2025 edition marks only the second time the AAC will be hosted in the UAE, following its 2021 debut at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
For the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), the historic five-player lineup represents a new milestone in the nation’s steady rise as a force in regional and global amateur golf.
A Farewell for UAE’s Flagbearer
For Ahmad Skaik, widely regarded as the UAE’s leading amateur golfer, this year’s Championship will be particularly emotional. The 28-year-old is set to make his sixth and final AAC appearance before turning professional — a transition that marks the next chapter in an already trailblazing career.
Skaik has proudly flown the UAE flag at numerous international tournaments, including the Dubai Desert Classic, Abu Dhabi Championship, and several events on the HotelPlanner Tour. Earlier this year, he became the first Emirati golfer to make the cut in a European Tour co-sanctioned event, a feat that drew widespread acclaim.
Reflecting on his journey, Skaik said the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship had been instrumental in shaping his growth as a player.
“Tournaments like the AAC have been pivotal in my journey,” Skaik said. “I’ve created incredible memories here — from making the cut when it was last held in the UAE to hitting the opening tee shot that year. To now return with a record number of Emirati players for my final amateur event feels like the perfect farewell.”
Rising Stars Aim to Shine
Joining Skaik are two promising 18-year-olds, Rayan Ahmad and Abdulla Kalbat, both making their second appearance in the Championship after debuting in 2024 at Japan’s Taiheiyo Club Gotemba.
Ahmad impressed in his debut year, making the cut and finishing T49, a rare achievement for a first-timer. “To make the cut on debut was a dream come true,” he said. “Now, I want to build on that experience and aim for a stronger finish — especially playing in front of a home crowd.”
Kalbat, who narrowly missed the cut last year, said the lessons learned had fueled his determination. “Playing against Asia’s best amateurs was a big step up. That experience motivated me to train harder, and I’m excited to test myself again on a course I know well,” he added.
Fresh Faces on the Majlis
Championship debutants Sam Mullane and Jonathan Selvaraj round out the UAE squad. Both enter the tournament in top form. Mullane has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning titles at the Montgomerie Golf Club Dubai Amateur Open and the 2025 Cedars Golf Championship.
“I’ve heard so much about the AAC from Ahmad, Rayan, and Abdulla,” Mullane said. “To finally experience it myself — and at the Emirates Golf Club — is an incredible opportunity.”
Selvaraj has also turned heads this year, earning World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) titles in Morocco and the UAE. “This has been a long-term goal for me,” Selvaraj said. “To play the AAC on home soil, at such an iconic venue, makes it even more special.”
A Championship with Global Impact
Established in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A, and The Masters Tournament, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship has become a premier pathway for aspiring golfers across the region.
The stakes are high: the winner of the 2025 edition will receive a coveted invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National and an exemption into The 154th Open. The runners-up will gain entry into The Open Qualifying Series, while the top three finishers will earn exemptions into The 131st Amateur Championship.
The AAC has been a launchpad for modern golf greats, including Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Smith, and Min Woo Lee — all of whom have gone on to win major titles. Collectively, past AAC competitors have amassed over 33 PGA Tour victories and more than 140 professional titles worldwide.
A Defining Moment for UAE Golf
As the countdown begins, anticipation is building across the Emirates’ golf community. Hosting the Championship on the Majlis Course — the first grass golf course in the Middle East and home of the Dubai Desert Classic — adds to the event’s prestige.
With a mix of experience, youth, and home advantage, the UAE team is determined to make its mark. “It’s more than just a tournament,” said Skaik. “It’s a statement of how far UAE golf has come — and how much farther we can go.”
Short Summary:
A record five UAE golfers — led by Ahmad Skaik in his farewell amateur appearance — are set to compete in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Emirates Golf Club. The event, a key stepping stone for future golf stars, could mark a defining chapter in the UAE’s sporting history.
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