Rayhan Thomas has won two of the oldest club championships in the region. Within a few days of winning the Dubai Creek Men’s Club Championship, the 15-year-old won the 26th Omega Emirates Amateur Open.
Representing the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Thomas started the final round six shots adrift of the overnight leader, Jack Davis, after opening with a three-over par 75 round at the Faldo course.
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But a stunning stretch of six holes around the turn of the Majlis course, vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard. He made five birdies in those six holes.
Even with a drop shot at the par three 15th, victory was never in doubt as he finished with a birdie on the 18th hole. A final-round four-under par 68 turned around a six-shot deficit to a six-shot victory margin for Thomas.
Congratulations @MENAGolfTour member Rayhan Thomas (@Raygolferboy) on his victory in the Omega Emirates Amateur Open pic.twitter.com/siIfyJ5odB
— MENA Golf Tour (@MENAGolfTour) March 8, 2015
Bayhaan Lakdawala (Dubai Creek) and Petr Dedek (Emirates Golf Club) both finished on fiveover par for the championship, but Lakdawala’s 73 in the final round earned him the runners-up place.
Christofer Rahm of the Swedish Golf Federation went home with fourth place following a level-par 72 on the final day. The top four prize winners were rewarded with Omega hospitality at the Dubai Ladies Masters. Thomas also sealed a Pro-Am place.
The nett competition was won by Lee White (of Frilford Heath, UK) with rounds of 76 and 74 for a nett 150 total, which was two shots better than Dubai Creek duo of Miki Mirza and Kabir Nanda.
UK-based Jack Davies (Aston Wood GC) won the best gross on day one for his three-under par 69. Zihao Su of Al Badia carded a 73 to pick up best gross on day two.
Glory for Gupta
Jayshree Gupta was crowned the 2015 Ladies Club Champion of Emirates Golf Club after posting two consistent rounds in a convincing seven-shot victory.
Gupta scored 79 on day one over the Faldo course, and 80 on day two over Majlis for a total of 159, enough to beat Carolyn Thompson (85-81- 166). A further two strokes behind on 168 (86, 82) was Catherine Clark, the 2013 champion.
