Golfers Mannat Brar (seated left) and Zara Anand (seated right) with a replica of their cash reward cheques presented by the Indian Golf Union. Image courtesy IGU.
By Rahul Banerji
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) recently felicitated Mannat Brar and Zara Anand for their exceptional performances at the prestigious R&A Girl’s Amateur Championship in England.
While Mannat became the first Indian woman amateur to reach the semi-finals of the R&A Girl’s Amateur, Zara progressed to the second round of the tournament which is treated as a stepping stone for top women’s professionals.
IGU president Brijinder Singh presented Rs 1 lakh to Mannat and Rs 50,000 to Zara as cash reward after the federation’s annual general meeting
AAC gets under way
Meanwhile, Kartik Singh, who is yet to turn 15, hopes to find the breakthrough for India at the highly competitive Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba, Japan.
The teenager, who last year made the cut at 13 years nine months and 22 days, is now ready to go for the big prize. The AAC will be played from October 3 to 6.
Besides Kartik, the team, chosen on the basis of World Amateur Golf Rankings and players available, will also include Rakshit Dahiya, Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa and Vedant Sirohi.
Playing for Webber International University, Vedant has been in fine form as he just shot a 54-hole individual record for his school and placed second, as did his team.
India’s best ever placing has been second place by Rayhan Thomas, who was runner-up at Sentosa in Singapore in 2018. The Dubai-based Thomas has since turned professional and won his first event on the domestic PGTI recently.
Chopraa, whose father was an India cricketer, won two events in India, and was 12th at the Porter Cup in the US. “The last two times were great experiences, especially the first one in Thailand in 2022,” he said in Gotemba on Tuesday.
“Last year my game was not at its best, but this time, though I have not played too much, the game is shaping up well.”
The fourth player, Rakshit Dahiya has won three times in India this season, and was fifth at the Singapore Junior Boys, where Kartik was the champion.
The winner will earn a slot the 2025 Masters tournament and The 153rd Open, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.
Sandhu captures Sr Open
Chandigarh’s Sandeep Sandhu posted rounds of 77, 76, 76 at the par-72 Noida Golf Course to capture the senior title in the IGU All India Mid Amateurs and Seniors Championship played recently.
Ranjit Singh of Bengal claimed the mid-amateur honours with rounds of 75, 72, 71 and 79.
Mitroo clinches NCR jr boys’ cup
Delhi’s Ranveer Mitroo carded a 10 under par 270 to lift the IGU NCR Junior Boys Cup in Category A by two-stroke margin at the Jaypee Wishtown Golf Course in Noida.
Uttar Pradesh’s Parth Raman Sood finished runner-up. Vihaan Jain took home the Category B title with an overall tally of three-under 277.
At the NGC, Haryana lad Rohit trumped Vinamra Anand of UP in a playoff to clinch the IGU Northern India Amateur Golf Championship at the Noida Golf Course.
Both players totalled 4 under 284 at the end of four rounds.
Also read: Singh set for Jr Presidents Cup as Montreal teams are finalised
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