DUBAI // Leading junior golfers in the UAE will take centre stage when the Pepsi Junior-Am gets under way at the Els Golf Club in Dubai on Saturday. The season-ending event, organised by the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), will see a host of junior players, who have done well in this season's order of merit events, captaining their respective sides in a one-ball score scramble format, starting with a 1pm shotgun. Spearheading the challenge will be Daniel Hendry and Shloka Desai, the recent winners of the EGF boys and girls order of merit titles.
Also included in the field are some of the finest UAE national players such as Khalid Yousuf and the Musharrekh brothers, Abdulla, Ahmed and Hassan. Miki Mirza and Nasha Sarkari, the top amateurs who were crowned the men's and the ladies' order of merit champions this season, have signed up for the event which promises to stage some interesting duels in the sun. All players will be joined by teaching professionals from UAE clubs, but, for a change, the professionals will be under the command of their pupils for the day.
The Pepsi Pro-Am is a team event and each side will consist of five players - one junior, one professional and three amateurs. "The tournament, which has grown in size and popularity over the years, provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge and reward all those juniors who have excelled this season," said Saeed Albudoor, general manager of the Emirates Golf Federation. Meanwhile, Paul King won Division A of the men's Dubai Creek Monthly Medal Order of Merit competition which started in October 2009. His points total of 590 was more than double that of Kennon Rider, his nearest rival, who finished second with 270 points. Alok Pant won Division B with 400 points and Maureen Platt was the ladies champion with 590 points. * Agencies