Sokolov Surges Ahead at Bahrain Amateur Open

100 Players Tee Off At Royal Golf Club

Daniil Sokolov produced a masterclass over 54 holes to claim a strong lead at the seventh Bahrain Amateur Open, which kicked off at the Royal Golf Club. The Qatari carded rounds culminating in a seven-under-par total of 65-66-66, leaving runners-up Issa Abou El Ela of Egypt and Sweden’s Adrian Larsson trailing by a single stroke at six under.

The three-day, 54-hole tournament, contested by over 100 players from Bahrain and across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, also serves as a qualifying event for the King Hamad Trophy. The top 10 finishers, excluding Bahrain’s national team members, will earn a berth in the November event, while the winner secures a place in the 2026 Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour.

Among the Bahraini contingent, former champions Ali Al Kowari, Khalifa Al Meraisi, and Ahmed Alzayed performed solidly. Al Kowari finished tied eighth at two under, Al Meraisi in a share of 11th at one under, and Alzayed also tied 11th. Youth players are meanwhile competing for national team selection for the Asian Youth Games, which will be held later this month on home soil.

Sokolov’s precision from tee to green proved decisive. He avoided any bogeys over the final round and showed remarkable putting under pressure, contrasting with the minor errors that cost Larsson and Abou El Ela key strokes. Jonathan Selvaraj (UAE), Salehaleh Al Kaabi (Qatar), and Jay Mullane (United Kingdom) all finished four under, sharing fifth place.

Action continues today at the Royal Golf Club and will conclude tomorrow.