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In Dubai, Geoffrey Laklak has written a new page in Lebanese golf history: he is the first player from Lebanon to make the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) on the legendary Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club.
Some shots carry more weight than others. Those struck by 17-year-old Geoffrey Laklak in Dubai a few days ago carried the weight of history. For the first time since the tournament’s creation, a Lebanese golfer played the weekend rounds of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. The young Beirut native turned a strong start (73, then 71) into a ticket for the final two rounds in a competitive field of 120 players representing 45 countries.
The Moment
On Friday, standing at even par after 36 holes (T-23), Laklak secured his place among the 62 players who made the cut, set at +6 (150). It marked a symbolic milestone for Lebanese golf. The AAC even highlighted “a first for Lebanon,” quoting the player as being “proud to send a message of hope” to a local golf scene that has only one course in the entire country.
A Stage That Matters
Co-organized by the APGC, the Masters, and the R&A, the AAC is the region’s premier launchpad for young talent: the winner earns invitations to both the 2026 Masters Tournament and The Open (Royal Birkdale). This year’s title went to Thailand’s Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee after a tense playoff. Simply making the cut there means competing at the highest continental level.
Riding his momentum, Laklak shot a solid 70 on Saturday, moving into the provisional Top 20 heading into the final round—confirming this was no “one-off,” but a true breakthrough in performance.
Federation’s Reaction
On the sidelines, Karim Salaam, president of both the Lebanese Golf Federation and the Golf Club of Lebanon, praised the significance of the achievement and its impact on the next generation. The message is clear: Lebanese golfers, both from the diaspora and those trained in Beirut, can now aim higher and farther.
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