Abu Dhabi Challenge to commence back-to-back Tour events
Howie and Co will be joined by several of the UAE’S homegrown talents thanks to the Emirates Golf Federation’s long-term partnership with the European Tour group
Despite the UAE witnessing its heaviest rainfall on record this week, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club has pulled out all the stops to ensure the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Challenge goes ahead as scheduled from April 18-21.
The game’s rising stars and DP World Tour winners will compete in the seventh event on the Challenge Tour’s 2024 Road to Mallorca schedule, including 2023 Ryder Cup Vice Captain Nicolas Colsaerts, five-time DP World Tour winner Alex Levy, UAE’S No.1 professional Joshua Grenvillewood and Craig Howie, who is an ambassador for this week’s host venue and has been a regular at the course for over a decade.
The Scotsman’s association with Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club began during winter training camps with the University of Stirling, where Howie found the tranquillity of the course a particular positive.
“It’s great to get away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Dubai,” said Howie, who has made the cut in all six of his Challenge Tour starts this season.
“Al Ain is a litle bit quieter, so it’s a perfect place to come and work away from distractions. The course is always in great condition, and the team do a great job of keeping it like that. The practice area is as good as you’ll get anywhere else.”
Howie and Co will be joined by several of the UAE’S homegrown talents thanks to the Emirates Golf Federation’s (EGF) long-term partnership with the European Tour group, which aims to develop golf in the UAE for at least the next decade.
As part of that agreement, the EGF has received 60 invitations across the Abu Dhabi Challenge and next week’s UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club to help create playing opportunities and provide a pathway for UAE golfers.
Nine of those invitations have gone to UAE National Team players, including the country’s No.1 amateur golfer Ahmad Skaik, his brother Mohammad and Khalifa Al Masaood.
Rayan Ahmed will also be flying the flag for the UAE, one month ater securing both the Individual Gold and Team Gold at last month’s GCC Golf Championship in Qatar.
“I am really stoked to be playing my first Challenge Tour event in the UAE,” said Ahmed.
“I can’t wait to rub shoulders with the highest quality players on the Tour and represent the UAE. My first target is to make the cut, but at the same time, my focus will be on my planning and execution, and I will take it each shot at a time.
“I love this course. My first time playing I won the Junior Open shooting 65, and last week I played the JAGA International Series and played 9 under par over 3 days with a 63, so my game is up there and ready for the Challenge Tour.
“I know the course well, I’m aware it will be a very different seting and field of competition. I am extremely confident of my long game, and my puting is geting stronger just in time.”
As well as giving local amateurs a taste of elite-level tournaments, two club professionals in the UAE are also set to rub shoulders with the stars of tomorrow.
Dubai Hills PGA Professional Louis Gaughan, who made the cut at this event last season, secured an invite from the EGF ater topping the Emirates PGA Order of Merit, while Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Thomas Ogilvie banked an invite ater winning the Emirates PGA Play-offs.
While the local players will be able to take advantage of prior course knowledge, the test this week will slightly differ to what they have come to know ater the team at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club introduced ten new tee boxes to lengthen the course from 6,700 yards to 71,17.
With Thomas Love, Director of Agronomy, ensuring those changes to the course were made in plenty of time in the lead up to the club’s Challenge Tour debut, a new challenge was sent his way this week when the course was hit with a major storm that swept across the country.