A 12-year-old Qatar-based golfer sets high goals as he wants to tee off with the very best

Twelve-year-old Daniil Sokolov, a Russian national who was born in Seoul, South Korea, was just five years old when he moved to Qatar with his parents from Tokyo, Japan.

Eldest of two siblings, he is fluent in English, French, and Russian. The fact that he speaks Arabic reasonably well makes him stand out among other student-athletes. His younger brother, Fedor Sokolov, 10, plays football in the elite Paris Saint-German Football Club (PSG) group.

From an early age, Daniil Sokolov, a grade VI student at International School of London, Doha campus, used to accompany his father, Dmitry Sokolov, a professional in energy systems who was charmed by the sport of golf during his four-year stay in South Korea.

Dmitry Sokolov, proud father of two talented young boys, told Qatar Tribune that upon arriving in Qatar, “perhaps the right time for five-year-old Daniil, supported by safe and sport environment with quality facilities, helped in exposing and developing the hidden skills of Daniil for the sport of golf”.

Daniil, said his father, has been a well-mannered boy right from his childhood, patient, with the right attitude and carrying a well matured personality for his age group, which are the prerequisites for being a golfer.

Meanwhile, paying gratitude to his father and mentor, Daniil said it was his father who from beginning guided and provided him the environment in building his confidence and grooming his hidden talent. “Right from a very young age, I got the opportunity to play on various golf courses and in different countries including Qatar, the UAE, African countries, Europe and the US, which helped me in shaping up my talent and personality,” said the 12-year-old.

Talking about his practice habits, he thanked his coach who guides him daily to refine swing and techniques. He practices five days a week, a minimum of four hours per session. He goes through minimum two competitive rounds per week.

The talented boy has been displaying his exceptional skills and garnering success from age seven in the junior golf circuit. His ability to drive the golf ball over 300 yards at such a young age is amazing and incredible.

He was recognised as the strongest non-USA 11-year-old player according to Under Armour Junior World Golf Rating; he was also chosen to All World Team of best junior golfers of his age.

He achieved an impressive 9th place in the Boys Under-12 division in summer 2022, at the IMG Academy World Junior Golf Championship in San Diego, California; he’s the winner of his age division at First Tee Miami Doral Junior Classic; and the youngest participant to finish 7th out of 120 participants in the Qatar Open Men’s Amateur Championship 2023 held at Doha Golf Club.

He will be participating at the Underrated Golf Tour 2023 presented by Stephen Curry, to take place this summer, to valuable experience against highly competitive opponents aged 12-18.

Talking about his future goals, Daniil said he wants to win a Qatar Amateur Open Championship within the next three years, and hopes to be counted among Top-10 WAGR players within next three years; and to win a professional golf by the age of 15.

Golf lovers who want to have a glimpse into his golfing skills and achievements, may visit Instagram at @daniil_sokolov_golf.

Golf: Qatar dominate at GCC Championship to retain team and individual titles

 

Qatar dominate at GCC Championship to retain team and individual titles

Saleh Al Kaabi retains individual title

Royal Golf Club, Bahrain:  Qatar and Saleh Al Kaabi retained the GCC golf championship titles after an impressive performance at the Royal Golf Club, Bahrain.

on Thursday, Al Kaabi won the individual championship, for the second successive year, at the end of the four-day championship.

In the team championship, Qatar team consisting of Al Kaabi, Ali Al Shahrani, Jaham Jassim Al Kuwari, Abdulrahman Al Shahrani finished first followed by Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.

This is the second successive year Qatar is winning the team championship. The team was coached by Hassan Benrokiya, while Salman Al Khanji was the head of the delegation.

Nine Qatari amateur golfers to compete in Qatar Open Golf Amateur Championship

 Nine Qatari amateur golfers to compete in Qatar Open Golf Amateur Championship

Saleh Ali Al Kaabi and Ali Al Shahrani will lead Qatar’s challenge at the 37th edition of Qatar Open Golf Amateur Championship that begins at the Doha Golf Club (DGC) on Thursday.

Al Kaabi and Al Shahrani are the among the nine Qatari golfers who will lead the home charge in the three-day tournament in which a total of 126 players will be seen in action.

Al Shahrani, who is the only the second Qatari player to win the tournament, will be looking for his second title having won his first one in 2021.

The winner of the amateur event will get a chance to compete in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters 2023 scheduled for October later this year.

The list of golfers includes 77 contestants of different nationalities, who play at different clubs in Qatar while the rest have traveled to Doha to take part in the event.

Apart from a place in Qatar Masters that will be played from October 26 to 29 this year, top 10 players will receive prizes at the conclusion of the tournament.

Launching Qatar Open at a press conference, Qatar Golf Association (QGA) Deputy General-Secretary Eng. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Muhannadi said preparations have been finalised to stage the event.

“We received over 150 entries as many golfers showed keen interest in their participation but we had to restrict field to 126 players. We have given priority to the ones with lower handicaps,” Al Muhannadi told reporters at the Doha Golf Club.

“We expect a close competition in presence of some very good golfers. Some of the amateurs, who participated in the Asian Tour’s International Series Qatar, are also featuring in the tournament. The prospect of Qatar Masters entry always takes the best out of golfers in this event,” he added.

DGC General Manager Gary McGlinchey said the conditions are better for golfers than it was last month when the course staged the first edition of Asian Tour’s International Series Qatar.

“The weather is better than it was in the last event but the course will still be a test for the golfers. We are looking forward to a good action in the weekend,” he said. McGlinchey also spoke about the complimentary messages from top golfers around the world who he said, “find the refurbished Doha Golf Club course ‘tough but fair’.

He expects the Qatar Open Golf Amateur Championship to see top scores of 8 under par as it was during the recent Asian Tour International Series at this course.

Andreas Pfister, General Manager Intercontinental Doha Beach & Spa was also present for the press conference, while Mike Shoueiry, Technical Director at Qatar Golf Association compered the function.

The competing players: Salman Nasser Al Khanji , Abdulrahman Amin Al Gaoud, Tom Sweigart, Ross Mackie, Salah Hamad Al Shaer, Sam Roseman, Stuart Anderson, Varun Muthappa, Samuel Perilla, Anthony Owen, Eirashid Mohamed Hamad, Ajiboye Jacob Bolaji, Jack Tobin, Allard Bijlstra, Khaled Salem Al Aathem, Niclas Bjorkhammer (Swe), Rashid Mohamed, Robert Kidd, Jake Wiltshire, Hamad Salem Al Aathem, Jaham Jassim Al Kuwari, Dinesh Kumar, Seamus McLoughney, Myles Taylor, Kazuyuki Kiriyama,Kevin Powell, Saleh Ali Musbah Al Kaabi, Isa Ebrahim Saad,Matias Camberos, Isak Osman Bisschop, Ali Al Shahrani, Abdul Aziz AlBoainain, Mubarak Essa Al Kuwari, Nasser Yaqoob, Laurent Constanty, Husain Ahmed Salem, Rachid Akl, Andrew Saunder, Rashed Fares Al Qutami, Chris Fowlie, Shinya Shiotsuki, Omar Khalid Hussain, Michael Colclasure, Yaseen Le Falher, Ashley Rawstron, Nemr Saad, Salah Musbah Al Kaabi, Reece Goodyear, Steven Britton, Claes Byberg, Gary Barrowman, Fazal Abdul Kazi, Jonathan Devine, Huw Phillips, Kittisak Sang Orn, Kotaro Hayashi, Omar Mamlouk, Daniel Langfield, Bertrand Dumoulin, Ehsan El Amine, Michael MacDonald, Dean Morris, Daniil Sokolov, James Nash, Kenneth Flynn, Andrew Britton, Mohd Sayeed Al Kuwari, Joe Paleotti, Michael Kennedy, Calum Fitzgerald, Chris De Kock, Jarkko Antero Rantakallio, Stevie Clark, Olivier van Lelyveld, Igor Taraba, Rob Skinner, Nikhil Lakhanpal, Lorenzo Gobet, Yousif Ali Janahi, Mohamed Hamad Al Aathem, David Payne, Waqas Al Bloushi, Mathias Pedersen, Joss Lerwill, Andrew Wilmot, Miller Green, Tej Gangavarapu, Donald Yang, Paul Smith, Greg McClure, Simon Roger Davies, John McGlinchey, Luis Deya, ohammad Sharizal, Yohann Pedder, Eyhab Burki, Isa Abdulla Al Qutami, Ibrahim Mubarak, Tooraj Shadnia, Matias Freije, Abdulrahman Al-Shahrani, Dean Ball, Joe Jones, Abdulaziz Al Muhannadi , Saimie Mohiden, Christian Prambs Jr, Dominic McGlinchey, Sultan Abdullah Al Hakam, Sam Epstein, Winston Agcon, Paul Stewart, Maximillian Parsons, Phill Park, Daniel Lowe, Richard Bolton, Tim Nixon, Chris Corcelles

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Reece Goodyear of England emerges as sole leader in Qatar on day one

 

Reece Goodyear of England emerges as sole leader in Qatar on day one

Reece Goodyear of England emerged as the sole leader on the opening day of the three-day Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship of Qatar Golf Association.

On Thursday, Goodyear who teed off in the latter half of the day shot 72 to displace Doha-based 12-year-old Danill Sokolov and leads over the Russian by one stroke.

Sokolov carded 73 one over par earlier in the day and is now joint second with Joe Jones of Wales.

Another Welshman James Nash is in the third place having shot 74 two over par.

Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Kumar is in the joint fifth spot along with two other golfers Sam Epstein and Myles Taylor.

Qatar’s Saleh Al Kaabi and Ali Al Shahrani have both shot 77 five over par and are in the joint sixth spot along with six other golfers.

A total of 120 golfers are competing in the event with the winners qualifying for the DP Tour Commercial Bank Qatar Masters which will be held in October this year at the Doha Golf Club.

 

12-year-old Doha resident Daniil Sokolov creates ripples at Qatar Open amateur championship

 

12-year-old Doha resident Daniil Sokolov creates ripples at Qatar Open amateur championship

 

Doha-based Daniil Sokolov took the club house lead on the first day of Qatar Golf Association’s Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship held at Doha Golf Club over the next three days.

The 12-year-old golf sensation is not new to Doha Golf Club as he has practicing at the venue for the last few years and has taken part in several junior events held at the DGC.

At the young age, this student-athlete has already shown exceptional skill and success in the junior golf circuit.

His ability to drive the golf ball over 300 yards at such a young age is truly remarkable. Currently he is recognized as the strongest non-USA 12-year-old player according to Under Armour Junior World Golf Rating.

The South-Korea born Russian, who has been Qatar for the seven years, is also not new to Qatar Open as he has taken part in the last two editions, says his father, who was his caddie on the first day of the event.

“He took part in the past two editions of the Qatar Open and made the cut on both the occasions,” said the senior Sokolov.

Daniil has got all the backing from his family who are keen to give him all the exposure and training to make him into a top class player.

Taking part in golf events is not the only way the youngster’s talent is harness in the right direction.

At last month International Series Qatar of the Asian Tour, held at the Doha Golf Club, Daniil, a Sixth grader at International School of London Qatar, served as a caddy to an American golfer, who was a family friend of the Sokolov’s.

His current +2.3 handicap in golf is a testament to his exceptional abilities on the course. He has had the opportunity to participate in and win golf tournaments in various countries in Europe, America, Africa and Middle East, which have given him exposure to different cultures and ways of playing the game, further developing his adaptability and skills.

With his combination of skill and diverse experiences, he is a strong candidate for any competitive golf program. He is a regular participant of the IMG Academy World Junior Golf Championship in San Diego, California, where he achieved an impressive 9th place in the Boys Under-12 division in summer 2022, out of 130 participants. Notably, he was only behind 12 years old boys, making his accomplishment even more remarkable. In December 2022, he won his age division at First Tee Miami Doral Junior Classic, a prestigious event that has hosted thousands of competitive junior golfers from around the world since 1981. He also regularly participates in the events organized by Future Champions Golf, US Kids Golf, Under Armour World Junior Golf Championship, Junior World Stars and consistently places among the top 10 players in the Under 12 division.

In January 2023, he was invited to play in the prestigious Dubai Junior Desert Classic, an opportunity for him to showcase his talents in UAE. After turning 12 in February, he is now eligible to participate in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments. Additionally, he has received an invitation to be a part of the Underrated Golf Tour 2023 presented by Stephen Curry, which will take place during the summer. This tour will provide him with the opportunity to continue to improve his game and gain valuable experience against highly competitive opponents aged 12-18.

In addition to his exceptional golfing skills, this student-athlete also possesses a diverse background and experiences. He has studied in an international school with over 40 nationalities and is fluent in four languages: English, French, Russian, and Arabic. He is adaptable and able to communicate with people from various backgrounds, making him stand out among other student athletes. His proficiency in multiple languages and understanding of different cultures will be an asset in any competitive junior golf program, and in any future professional golf career

 

  

 

 

Prize distribution function of the $2.5m International Series Qatar,

 

Prize distribution function of the $2.5m International Series Qatar, Asian Tour sanctioned event held at Doha Golf Club from Feb 16 to 19

American Andrew Ogletree became the first player to win two International Series events when he recorded a convincing victory today in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

The impressive 24 year old from Mississippi closed with a one-over-par 73 to finish on seven under and win by three shots from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who fired a 68, helped by an eagle on the par-five 18th.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72, while his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai returned a 67 to claim fourth, another stroke behind.

PICTUERS BY PHOTOGRAPHER JAYARAM

How the action unfolded on the final day at the International Series Qatar

 How the action unfolded on the final day at the International Series Qatar and the winning moment as captured by PHOTOGRAPHER JAYARAM.

Prize distribution function of the $2.5m International Series Qatar, Asian Tour sanctioned event held at Doha Golf Club from Feb 16 to 19

American Andrew Ogletree became the first player to win two International Series events when he recorded a convincing victory today in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

The impressive 24 year old from Mississippi closed with a one-over-par 73 to fin

ish on seven under and win by three shots from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who fired a 68, helped by an eagle on the par-five 18th.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72, while his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai returned a 67 to claim fourth, another stroke behind.

PICTUERS BY PHOTOGRAPHER JAYARAM