Rayan Ahmed, a rising golf star from the UAE, recently competed in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) at the Taiheiyo Club in Japan. The tournament, now in its 15th edition, saw fierce competition with China’s Wenyi Ding emerging as the victor with an impressive 12-under-par score of 268. Despite finishing second last year, Ding clinched the title by just one shot from compatriot Ziqin Zhou, with three Japanese players also finishing in the top six.
Ahmed, who shot rounds of 74, 72, 73, and 73 for a total of 292, expressed his enthusiasm for the experience gained at the prestigious tournament. He mentioned that the event had helped him improve his game and was excited to represent the UAE on such a significant platform. Ahmed also highlighted his desire to work on his putting skills, which he felt let him down at times during the competition. He credited the Emirates Golf Club team and the UAE Golf Federation for their support.
Having set his sights on future tournaments, Ahmed expressed his motivation to compete in the next year’s AAC, which will be hosted in Dubai. He aims to secure a win for the UAE at the upcoming event and is determined to give his best shot. The young golfer also revealed that his next event would be the UAE Cup at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, where he hopes to build on the confidence gained from his recent performance.
The AAC tournament attracted participants from several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The event, established in 2009, is considered the premier amateur golf competition in the Asia region and is supported by renowned organizations such as The R&A, The Masters, and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. With the next edition set to take place in Dubai, golf enthusiasts can expect another exciting competition to unfold.
In terms of results, Ding from China emerged as the champion with a remarkable score of 268, followed closely by Khou, also from China, with a score of 269. Among the Middle East players, Khalid Attieh from Saudi Arabia stood out with a total score of 290, while Rayan Ahmed from the UAE secured a commendable score of 292. The competition showcased the talent and determination of golfers from various countries in the Asia-Pacific region, setting the stage for future competitions to come.
