Ahmad Skaik was proud to make history on day one of the 2021 AVIV Dubai Championship but the amateur was hopeful that there was even better to come.
The 24-year-old student carded a four under 68 that not only beat his own best round on Tour by eight shots but was the lowest ever European Tour round by an Emirati.
Skaik was five under after 13 holes over the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates and while he three putted the 14th for a bogey, was rightly delighted with his round.
"I'm very proud," he said. "I didn't think I was going to shoot that score so I am very, very happy. I still need to sink it in and maybe hopefully do better tomorrow.
"I'm very happy, my game is in really good form. I was hitting it pretty well out there, I felt in control of my game and the putts just dropped. Unfortunately I made a three putt on 14 but that was the only bogey of the day."
"Practice in the morning, study in the afternoon."
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 11, 2021
Local amateur Ahmad Skaik on balancing studies and golf after his opening round 68.
#AvivDubaiChampionship pic.twitter.com/b9kR5fdDEu
Fresh off finishing 42nd at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Skaik admits it is not easy juggling his studies with his golf, but he will finish his university course before thinking about turning professional.
"I'm still in university now and I have a semester now and the next semester is my last one, hopefully," he said.
"Hopefully after that I can play maybe six months as an amateur and hopefully turn pro.
"It's pretty tough but you've got to do what you've got to do. I'm trying my best to do both - practise in the morning and then do my assignments later on and sometimes I take the day off because I always leave my assignments to the last minute which is not good!
"I think I'm doing alright."
