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GULF NEWS interviews Sana Tufail, 25, a former junior golf star from Abu Dhabi who dominates the local junior girls golf scene and now lives in the US.
Tell us about your golf history, especially in the UAE?
My last full season in the UAE was in 2014 before I was 17 on a full golf scholarship to the US. I’ve won 31 Women’s EGF Medals of Honor in the UAE over the past three seasons, including 17 in two seasons. That summer, I started competing in junior US internationals. I did so well that I got a “Full Ride” offer (full scholarship) from several US universities. I chose Old Dominion University (ODU) and played in all 37 games in four years.
How did you start playing in the UAE? Who helped you early on?
When I was around four years old, my father would take my younger brother and me to golf at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. I then joined the EGF Junior Golf program in 2002, run by Martin Duff, who at the time was hugely instrumental in shaping junior golf and we ran junior championships at various levels across the UAE.
Where and what are you doing now, golf and professionally?
I completed my Masters in Speech-Language Pathology and Special Education in May 2021. Since then, I have been working in special education at the New England Children’s Center (NECC) in Boston, USA. I have been fortunate to work with determined children in this developmental environment and they are my inspiration. After graduation, I moved to Boston, MA and started visiting nearby driving ranges in my spare time. Then I played a lot more in the area – managed to get two runner-up spots at the Francis Ouimet Memorial Invitational and the New England Women’s Amateur, I managed to get an easy LPGA-Epson Tour ranking, play Epson Tour events and Monday LPGA qualifiers.
What games are on your immediate schedule?
I have at least four qualifiers scheduled between now and mid-June, plus an LPGA Canadian Open qualifier in Canada and a US Women’s Open Massachusetts qualifier. It’s a balancing act of making adjustments between vacations, planned trips, and practice rounds for optimal results.
Tell us about your work teaching special needs and introducing golf to students?
Currently, I work in a youth-adult residential setting at the New England Children’s Center in Boston. Residents have transitioned from full-time school environments into young adulthood and now in residential settings where they continue to develop communication skills and language programs for optimal outcomes. Some may work from outside locations during the day. As part of the development program, I encourage the use of golf as a tool to facilitate improved presentation and communication skills. It was encouraging to see all the residents enjoying their golf lessons, with the aim of making them more comfortable. Ultimately, I hope to improve their confidence and standards to eventually complete some or all of the course. Getting the best results requires patience and time.Formal Special Olympics golf coaching training is mandatory and I am currently working with a former Special Olympics coach in New England, MA
When was the last time you were in Abu Dhabi?
The pandemic has resulted in very limited travel between the US and Abu Dhabi, so travel opportunities have been very limited from March 2020 until recently. I managed to come for a month during March/April this year. Golfing in good weather is fantastic with some great courses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I also had a great time with my instructor, Yasin Ali, at JA Resort Jebel Ali.
What are your career aspirations in golf?
Last summer I decided to attend the LPGA Q School on a whim, and it was a success. Luckily, I see a two to three year window to see how far I can go in becoming a professional golfer, other than that it will depend on how successful I am during that time and What sponsorship opportunities are available. At some point, I’m going to have to turn pro full-time to do justice to my game. My current career in Special Education/Speech-Speech Pathology keeps me grounded and a huge motivator for me to do the best I can.
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