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