How An Amateur Golfer Produced The Winning Moment In A Professional Event

Amateur LuJain Omar Khalil provided the winning moment on Saturday evening at the Aramco Team Series - Tampa

An Aramco Team Series flag in the wind
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Aramco Team Series provides professional female golfers with the opportunity to secure both team and individual accolades, with the first two days deciding which quartet picks up the team element.

Made up of three professionals and an amateur, the format works by the two best scores of the four counting towards the team score. This means that anyone could have the winning moment and, at the most recent Aramco Team Series event in Tampa, Florida, that was exactly the case, as LuJain Omar Khalil was forced to produce the pivotal moment for her side!

Captained by Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Khalil was faced with a putt on the 18th green to give her four ball the victory at Feather Sound Country Club. Thankfully, for the 18-year-old amateur, she was able to convert for a four with a shot, to give her side the victory and the professionals a share of over $100,000.

Retaining the team title after her 2023 win, Roussin-Bouchard, whose team included Celine Herbin and Meghan MacLaren, added another title to her CV, whilst Khalil claimed a second successive team title having been part of Team Ciganda at the Aramco Team Series – Riyadh in October 2023. 

“I am extremely proud,” reflected Roussin-Bouchard. “It's been a blast, honestly. There was an amazing atmosphere. Everyone was cheering on one another, and it was just a very good balance in the team. We had each other's back no matter what. We had some tough times especially with the wind, but it didn't get a hold of us. Honestly, I couldn't be more proud of the golfers, the way they handled everything.” 

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard hits a bunker shot

Roussin-Bouchard fired a 68 to help her team on Saturday

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Speaking about her amateur's performance, the Frenchwoman added: “It was all about those last two holes; they were very stressful. It’s a team effort and LJ (LuJain) did well. She got very, very stressed out on that last putt, she worried she was going to lose it, but we're proud of her, a real credit to the team.” 

The individual portion of the event finishes on Sunday and, currently, a number of big names are in contention, such as Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson and Carlota Ciganda.

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Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x