The national team, comprising Khalid Yousuf, Ahmed Al Musharrekh, Ismail Sharif and Abdulla Al Musharrekh, rattled up a gross 54-hole total of 742 to make it to the podium behind winners Bahrain (gross 695) and runners-up Saudi Arabia (gross 717).
Led by young Hassan Al Musharrekh, the UAE team did fairly well in the Junior Cateogory, carding a gross 496 to finish behind hosts Qatar (gross 457). Saudi Arabia took the third place on a team gross score of 534.
The UAE National Team that finished a close runners-up to Bahrain last year had their moments in the sun, but were left ruing missed putts. Khalid Yousuf, who shot a level-par 72 in the third round, made a useful contribution to the team total. He also finished fourth in the individual championship on a gross 233, behind winner Nasser Yacoob Saleh of Bahrain (gross 226).

In the senior division, the UAE team took the fourth place on a gross 367 with Mohamed Al Musharrekh producing some good scores of 89 and 94, a decent showing which placed him in the fifth place in the seniors individual division.
“Certainly, we expected a much better result from our teams, but we can always take positives from the championship,” said Adel Zarouni, Secretary General, Emirates Golf Federation.
“Players like Khalid Yousuf and Hassan Al Musharrekh did excel, but like their team-mates they weren’t consistent enough to pose a serious threat to our nearest challengers. That’s golf, things some time do fall in place despite the best of your efforts.
“Playing in the GCC Championship was a great learning curve and I am sure the players will be determined to make amends for their inconsistent showing with they feature in the forthcoming regional and domestic tournaments,” Zarouni added.

Leading scores:

National team category (54-hole stroke play):

Bahrain — team gross 695, team net 695
2. Saudi Arabia — team gross 717, team net 691
3. UAE — team gross 742, team net 729


Junior category (54-hole stroke play):

Qatar — team gross 457, team net 423
2. UAE — team gross 496, team net 452 (Hassan Al Musharrekh 80 80 79, Sohail, Al Marzouki 83 92 86, Ahmed Al Mazroui 86 88 87)
3. Saudi Arabia — team gross 534, team net 480


Senior category (36-hole stroke play):

Qatar — team gross 324, team net 300
2. Kuwait — team gross 360, team net 330
3. Saudi Arabia — team gross 366, team net 338
4. UAE — team gross 367, team net 331 (Adel Zarouni 97, 102, Khalid Mubarak 94, 90 and Mohammed Al Musharrekh 89, 94)

Individual Competition (National Division, 36-hole stroke play):

1. Naseer Yacoob Saleh (Bahrain) — gross 226, net 226
2. Khaled Attieh (Saudi Arabia) — gross 230, net 221
3. Hamad Mubarak Afnan (Bahrain) — gross 233, net 233
4. Khalid Yousuf (UAE) — gross 233, net 236


Junior Division (54-hole stroke play):

Ali Abdulla Al Mufleh (Qatar) — gross 228, net 210
2. Jeham Al Kuwari (Qatar) — gross 230, net 218
3. Hassan Al Musharrekh (UAE) — gross 239, net 218
Senior Division (36-hole stroke play):

Abdul Aziz Al Boainin (Qatar) — gross 158, net 146
2. Adel Al Hamad (Qatar) — gross 166, net 154
3. Qatami Al Qatami (Kuwait) — gross 172. Net 160
4. Ali Al Sahaly (Saudi Arabia) — gross 182, net 172
5. Mohammed Al Musharrekh — gross 183, net 165.


Ends….