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Abu Dhabi Golf Club braces as new class of golfers get set to tee off for 2023 Eisenhower Trophy

As many as 36 teams will be represented at the prestigious World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) event which twill be played at the National Course

Published: Tue 17 Oct 2023, 9:43 PM

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  • Nick Tarratt/ KT Guest Golf Writer

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Dignitaries at the recent press conference (left to right) John Bodenhamer, Chief Championships Officer USGA; Antony Scanlon, Executive Director of the International International Federation (IGF); Niall Farquharson, Chairman of the R&A; and General Abdallah Alhashmi, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation. — Supplied photo

Dignitaries at the recent press conference (left to right) John Bodenhamer, Chief Championships Officer USGA; Antony Scanlon, Executive Director of the International International Federation (IGF); Niall Farquharson, Chairman of the R&A; and General Abdallah Alhashmi, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation. — Supplied photo

There was a buzz in the air as teams from around the world gathered at Abu Dhabi Golf Club ahead of the eagerly anticipated Eisenhower Trophy, the symbol of supremacy in the World Amateur Team Championships (WATC).

The Captains’ meetings, Referees’ meetings are all now completed and the first ball is set to be struck on Wednesday morning with the honour going to UAE Captain Ahmad Skaik who will tee off at 6.30 am along with representatives from Finland and Zimbabwe.


Other UAE players Rayan Ahmed and Thomas Nesbitt tee off at 6.52 am and 6.41 am respectively.

As many as 13 of the top 30 players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings – Men’s Division, are in the field with eight of the members of the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Team and US Walker Cup Team also competing.

The opening press conference was attended by General Abdallah Alhashmi, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, Antony Scanlon, Executive Director of the International Golf Federation (IGF), John Bodenhamer Chief Championships Officer and Niall Farquharson, Chairman of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

(L to R) Gordon Sargent (US), number 20 in the WAGR Jose Luis Balester Barrio (Spain), Ahmad Skaik (UAE), number 7 in the WAGR Pietro Bovari (It), and number four in the WAGR Nick Dunlap (US) at Abu Dhabi Golf Club as they prepare to compete in the 2023 Eisenhower Trophy. - Supplied photo

(L to R) Gordon Sargent (US), number 20 in the WAGR Jose Luis Balester Barrio (Spain), Ahmad Skaik (UAE), number 7 in the WAGR Pietro Bovari (It), and number four in the WAGR Nick Dunlap (US) at Abu Dhabi Golf Club as they prepare to compete in the 2023 Eisenhower Trophy. - Supplied photo

The format of the tournament is that each team has two or three players, who each play 18 holes of stroke play over four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72-hole) total is the team’s score for the championship.

Players must be amateur golfers under the Rules of Amateur Status and nationals of the countries they represent.

During the Eisenhower Trophy competition for men, 18 holes of stroke play will be conducted from Wednesday to Saturday.

Similarly, 18 holes of stroke play will be conducted from October 25 to October 28 for the Espirito Santo Trophy competition for women.

The winning team in the Men’s competition receives custody of the Eisenhower Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship.

The top women's team will also get to keep the Espirito Santo Trophy until the next Women’s World Amateur Team Championship is held.

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Members of the winning teams receive gold medals, while the second-placed teams receive silvers medals.

The teams finishing third receive bronze medals. The player with the lowest score in each championship is recognized at the respective closing ceremonies, but no prize is awarded.



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