Palestinian Yasmine Zahir continued her brilliance in the women’s competitions at the Jordan Open Golf Championship, where she maintained the top of the standings for the second day in a row with a total of 146 strokes, ahead of the Lebanese Lara Bakhour, who came second with 153 strokes, in light of a strong competition that brought together an elite of Arab and international players.
The tournament is one of the most prominent stations in the Arab Golf Federation-approved Arabian Golf Series, and is part of the Amateur World Rankings (WAGR), and will be held at Ayla Oasis Course in Aqaba from 4 to 6 September, with the participation of more than 110 players from 24 countries.
As the competition intensified, the men’s division saw notable changes in the rankings, with Qatar’s Daniel Sokolov jumping to the top spot after scoring 66 strokes in the second round, for a total of 141. Emirati Ahmed Skaik came second with a total of 144 strokes, followed by his compatriots Sam Mulan and Syed Rayan Ahmed in third and fourth places with 145 strokes each, while Egypt’s Issa Abu Ela came sixth with a total of 150 strokes.
The tournament witnessed the participation of distinguished Jordanian women, represented by the players Lilian Mujahid, Layan Jaber, Mayar Al-Shomali, Lamar Al-Shomali, and Nour Jaber, in a clear indication of the development of the sport of women’s golf in Jordan and the expansion of its base.
In the U-16 junior competition, Jordan’s Mohammed Al-Rawashdeh maintained his lead with 73 strokes, ahead of Tunisia’s Mehdi Ben Youssef (76 strokes) and Serbia’s Aleksey Dukanovic (77 strokes). Alongside him, Adam Al-Saudi, Murad Al-Rawashdeh, and Mohammed Shaath stood out with strong performances that reflect the development of local talent.
In the adult category, Lebanon’s Sheikh Moussa Al-Zein advanced to first place with a total of 81 strokes, ahead of his compatriot Tony Bou Sarhal (83 strokes), and Jordan’s Joe Fadli came third with 86 strokes.
The second day of the tournament strengthened the momentum of competition between players in various categories, in a professional atmosphere before the final day, which will witness the decisive positions and the crowning of champions.
The Public Relations Manager at Ayla Mansour Al-Kabariti stated that the championship competitions for the second day in a row, which are held at Ayla Golf Club, one of the finest golf courses in the Middle East, with a design bearing the signature of the legend of the game Greg Norman, and the course extends amid a picturesque natural painting that combines the sea and the mountains in the city of Aqaba, giving players an exceptional experience in a unique atmosphere. The course has established itself as an ideal destination for hosting international tournaments thanks to its world-class standards and integrated infrastructure, becoming a key pillar in the development of golf in Jordan and the region.