Thomas Stephenson Wins 2026 Jumeirah Golf Estates Amateur Open
Monday 16th March; Dubai, United Arab Emirates: From Friday 13th to Sunday 15th March, Jumeirah Golf Estates proudly hosted the 2026 Jumeirah Golf Estates Amateur Open. The Club’s annual flagship tournament welcomed 135 talented golfers who competed across the renowned Fire and Earth courses.
The 54-hole stroke play championship served as both a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) qualifying event and an Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Order-of-Merit qualifying event, with additional support from The R&A.
Dan Naudo, Club Manager at Jumeirah Golf Estates, reflected on the tournament: “The support from the players has been overwhelming, and we are incredibly grateful for their engagement and enthusiasm throughout the week, even amid recent regional challenges. This event would not have been as special without the players’ dedication and commitment to top-level competitive golf.
As always, the Agronomy Team deserves recognition for their outstanding efforts in delivering two immaculate golf courses and exceptional playing surfaces for all competitors. As a Club, we are incredibly fortunate to be supported by such a strong Agronomy Team who consistently go above and beyond.”
Round One (Fire Course)
The opening round on Friday 13th March, was played on the Fire Course. The standout performances came from Thomas Stephenson (Jumeirah Golf Estates) and Alexander Rushika (Emirates Golf Federation), both carding impressive rounds of four-under-par (68) to share the lead after day one.
Round Two (Fire Course)
Round two, also played on the Fire Course on Saturday 14th March, saw Lauri Paasilinna (Jumeirah Golf Estates) make an early move up the leaderboard with a strong four-under-par 68. Mikhail Pinto (Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club) also climbed the standings with a solid three-under-par 69.
Despite the pressure from the chasing pack, the overnight lead remained with Thomas Stephenson, who followed his opening round with another 68. The 2025 Club Champion and 2024 Amateur Open Champion took a three-shot lead into the final round.
Final Round (Earth Course)
The final round took place on Sunday 15th March, on the Earth Course, host venue of the DP World Tour Championship, providing a fitting stage for the tournament’s conclusion.
As the final groups approached the back nine, Stephenson’s three-shot advantage quickly narrowed, setting the stage for a thrilling finish along the Earth Course’s iconic closing stretch. Alexander Rushika surged with five birdies in his final round, while Jake Chute (Jumeirah Golf Estates) mounted a late challenge with back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16.
However, none could match the composure of Thomas Stephenson, who sealed victory with a decisive par on the par-5 18th hole. The accomplished Jumeirah Golf Estates member and Scratch Team Captain held his nerve among some of the region’s finest amateur players, despite a rare bogey on the par-3 17th.
Stephenson’s precision and consistency across the three rounds delivered a winning total of 210, following rounds of 68, 68 and 74, securing the title by one shot over Rushika.
Net Division
In the Net Division, Nicholas Callan (Saadiyat Beach Golf Club) claimed victory with a total of 206 (net 68-69-69), finishing ten-under-par.
Lewis Morgan (Jumeirah Golf Estates) finished second on 207 (net 67-73-67), while Aylan Serghini secured third place with rounds of 67-70-73, finishing six-under-par net.
Amateur Open Final Scores
| Net Division | |||
| Third | Aylan Serghini | 67-70-73 | 210 (Net −6) |
| Runner-Up | Lewis Morgan | 67-73-67 | 207 (Net −9) |
| Winner | Nicholas Callan | 68-69-69 | 206 (Net −10) |
| Gross Division | |||
| 10th | Luke Challis | 70-74-74 | 218 (+2) |
| 9th | Alayna Rafique | 72-73-73 | 218 (+2) |
| 8th | Ananyaa Sood | 69-72-76 | 217 (+1) |
| 7th | Lukas Astrom | 73-71-72 | 216 (E) |
| 6th | Rayan Ahmed | 70-70-75 | 215 (−1) |
| 5th | Jonathan Selvaraj | 70-71-72 | 213 (−3) |
| 4th | Jake Chute | 71-70-72 | 213 (−3) |
| Third | Victor Larsson | 71-70-71 | 212 (−4) |
| Second | Alexander Rushika | 68-71-72 | 211 (−5) |
| Winner | Thomas Stephenson | 68-68-74 | 210 (−6) |
The weekend concluded in the Club’s Ballroom, where competitors gathered to celebrate over a buffet and refreshments following the prize presentation.
Jumeirah Golf Estates now looks ahead to welcoming players back for the 2027 Amateur Open, while attention turns to the upcoming Club Championships later this month.