Belaid puts aside Cunniffe challenge

Bilal Belaid of Abu Dhabi Golf Club staved off a tough challenge from Eoin Cunniffe of Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club to win the Emirates Golf Federation’s Junior of Merit title in the boys gross category. Rayhan Thomas of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and Boushra Dalile of Emirates Golf Club also needed to overcome a stiff fight-back from their nearest rivals before winning the Order of Merit titles in the boys net and girls net divisions respectively. A picture of consistency during the six-month long season, Belaid tallied 148.25 points, edging past Cunniffe by just five points. The winner of the Yas Links Abu Dhabi Junior Open, Belaid featured in all the seven events which carried Order of Merit points. Young Cunniffe picked up steam with a victory in the Emirates Golf Club Junior Open, the penultimate event on the Order Of Merit, to post a creditable runner-up finish, relegating Dubai Creek’s Rayhan Thomas (139.25 points) to third place. Thomas, however, had the final say in the boys net division, taking the honours with 11.5 points ahead of Cunniffe (108) and Dhruv Nair (102). The Dalile sisters — Boushra and Line – dominated the girls net division with an impressive one-two finish. During the season, which kicked off with the Abu Dhabi Golf Club Junior Open.