UAE to field five players at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

DUBAI: Five golfers will fly the flag for the UAE on home soil as Ahmad Skaik, Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Abdulla Kalbat and Rayan Ahmed tee up at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, hosted at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course from Oct. 23–26, 2025.

The tournament was established in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.

The champion will receive an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open; the runner(s)-up will receive an exemption into The Open Qualifying Series; and the top three finishers will receive an exemption into The 131st Amateur Championship.

Skaik is no stranger to the championship and will be making his sixth appearance in the event. One of his standout moments came at the 2021 edition at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, where he became just the second Emirati to make the cut, a decade after Ahmed Al-Musharrekh etched his name in the history books at Singapore Island Country Club.

Skaik’s UAE national team teammate Ahmed added to that history on his debut at Japan’s Taiheiyo Club last year, becoming the third player representing the UAE to make the cut. His achievement was marked by special congratulations from Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley and Emirates Golf Federation Vice Chairman Gen. Abdullah Al-Hashmi.

Kalbat also made his championship debut last year, while both Mullane and Selvaraj are set to make their first appearances this year on home soil.

“I’m really excited; it’s always special to play significant events like this on home soil,” said Skaik.

“I know the Majlis Course well, and it’s an