Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, Ajman, UAE will host the inaugural Cedars Golf Championship this week, involving participation from five Arab nations, the second tournament on the newly created Arab Golf Series. – Supplied photo
The inaugural 54-hole Cedars Golf Championship takes place this week from Tuesday, April 1st to Thursday 3rd April, 2025, at Al Zorah Golf Club and Yacht Club in Ajman, UAE.
Organised by the Lebanese Golf Federation in collaboration with the Emirates Golf Federation, and the overarching sanctioning body, the Arab Golf Federation (AGF), the Championship is set to be a key event on the recently announced Arab Golf Series.
The tournament is played over 54 holes, with an 18-hole Stableford format for the final round.
International representation sees five countries taking part: Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar and the home country of UAE.
The following competing Divisions are as below:
Men’s Division: Gross and Net.
Ladies’ Division: Gross and Net.
Junior Under-18 Division: Gross and Net.
Lebanese Nationals: Gross and Net.
Notable UAE home players in the 45-player field, include Ahmad Skaik (+4, UAE), Sam Mullane (+6, EGF), Jonathan Selvaraj (+4, EGF), Mohammad Skaik (+2, UAE) and in the Female Division, Anca Mateiu (+5, UAE) who looks a strong favourite and one of the in-form female players in the UAE, with all her local knowledge.
The overseas participation looks impressive, with Daniel Sokolov (+7, Qatar) amongst the expected challengers with a low handicap Egypt Team consisting of: Issa Abou El Ela (+4), Ahmed Naim (Scr), Mohammad Abou El Ela (+1) and Alieldine Salama (Scr).
With World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points available, supported by The R&A, the Championship has attracted top amateur players. The winner of the Men’s overall category will earn a spot on the 2025 HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour), in the UAE Challenge, to be held at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th April 2025.
Karim Salam, President of the Lebanese Golf Federation, emphasised the tournament’s significance, stating, ‘We are proud to launch the Cedars Golf Championship as part of the Arab Golf Series, which aims to develop golf in the region and elevate Arab players’ standing on the international stage.’
‘This tournament will provide a valuable platform for amateur players to showcase their skills while fostering collaboration between Arab Golf Federations to deliver high-calibre tournaments. We extend our gratitude to the Emirates Golf Federation for hosting this round and look forward to strong competition among the participants.’
The tournament serves as the second event of the Arab Golf Series, following the Qatar Open which was won by Qatar’s Saleh Al-Kaabi.
The Series aims to enhance competitive opportunities for Arab golfers and support their progression in the global rankings.
