EGYPT’S MOHAMMAD ABOU EL ELA TIED FIRST IN CEDARS CUP  CHAMPIONSHIP AND ISSA ABOU EL ALA TIED SEVENTH AFTER ROUND ONE, AT AL ZORAH GOLF & YACHT CLUB, AJMAN, UAE, IN THE SECOND EVENT OF THE NEW ARAB GOLF SERIES

Mohammad Abou El Ela shoots 69 and Issa Abou El Ela 71 – as both players in the mix in this 54-hole tournament

By Egyptian Golf Federation,

Mohammad Abou El Ela (Egypt) shot an opening round of one under par 69 to be tied first in the inaugural 54-hole Cedars Golf Championship taking place at Al Zorah Golf Club and Yacht Club in Ajman, UAE.

Mohammad, is tied with four other players at the top of the leaderboard in the Men’s Division, which attracted 32 players, including the home favourite from the UAE, Ahmad Skaik.

Tied seventh on one over the card is Issa Abou El Ela (Egypt), who shot a 71.

Mohammad (1), starting on Tee 10, had a solid round with six opening pars, then a bogey on hole 16 and birdie on his ninth hole, the 18^th, to be out in level par 35.

On the front nine, his back nine, he had a further three birdies on holes 2, 6 and 7, with back-to-back bogeys on holes 4 and 5 to be back in 34.

Mohammad also leads the Net Division with a 69 – net 68, to lead by three shots from three players.

He told the EGF Website, ‘I played well today – it is not the first time I have played at Al Zorah - I played it in October last year in the Pan Arab Men’s Championship.’

’I drove the ball really well managing to make five birdies, I hit many greens – and I played the par 5’s well – securing birdies on both the 16^th and 18^th.’

‘My game is feeling good and I am feeling confident,’ concluded Mohammad.

Issa, (+ 2), two shots back of Mohammad and the leaders, also started on Tee 10, but had a challenging start with a double on his second hole, the 11^th, and another bogey on hole 16 to see him stand at three over par after just seven holes.

He bounced back with a birdie on hole 18 which saw him make the turn in 37.

More birdies on holes 3, 5 and 6 along with two bogeys – saw him home in 34 and hand in a card of 71.

The second round will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in the same pairings with the final round on Thursday with the leaders out last.

Organised by the Lebanese Golf Federation in collaboration with the Emirates Golf Federation, and the overarching sanctioning body, the Arab Golf Federation (AGF), this Championship is the second tournament of the Arab Golf Series.

Five Arab countries are taking part: Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar and the home country of UAE, with World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points available, supported by The R&A.

The winner of the Men’s overall category come Thursday night will earn a spot on the 2025 HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour), in the UAE Challenge, to be held at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, UAE, Thursday 10^th – Sunday 13^th April, 2025.

The leader of the Ladies Division is Anca Mateiu (UAE) with a brilliant round of seven under par 65, to take a nine-shot lead into the second round.

First Round Leaders (Black Tees, Par 70).

69. Abou El Ela (Egypt) 69.
70. Skaik (UAE) 69.
71. Hess (EGF) 69.
72. Mullane (EGF) 69.
73. Halonen (AGF) 69.
74. Pintu (EGF) 70.
75. Abou El Ala (Egypt) 71.
76. Byrne (EGF) 71.