Jeev is top draw for inaugural QA InfoTech Open

By Rahul Banerji

Path-breaking Indian professional Jeev Milkha Singh headlines the field for the inaugural edition of the QA InfoTech Open conducted by the Professional Golf Tour of India, the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India.

The Rs 50 lakh tournament is the 13^th event of the PGTI’s 2018 season and sponsored by QA InfoTech, a fast-growing software company. It will be played at the Noida Golf Course from Tuesday to Friday this week.

The Chandigarh-based professional has recently had a PGTI event named after him, the Rs 1.5 crore Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational presented by Take Solutions,

It will be played at the Chandigarh Golf Club, where Jeev began his journey into the sport almost 40 years ago, from November 1 to 4.

“I still remember accompanying my father Milkha Singh to the Chandigarh Golf Club as he wanted to learn the game,” Jeev was quoted as saying at the launch of his tournament.

“I saw other kids train at the club and was fascinated. At that time, the golf course had 12 holes and there was a small zoo near the ninth hole.

“As a kid, we would play our rounds and then watch the animals. I have played the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament in USA. Now having a tournament named after me is the same kind of feeling,” he added

In the last 11 years, Jeev has made just five appearance in a PGTI field and now plays largely in the Asian, Japan and European Tours.

Quality field

Besides Jeev, who returns for a full-field PGTI event after a year, the tournament will feature top professionals of the South Asian region.

They include Shamim Khan (2017 PGTI Order of Merit champion), Asian Tour regular Chiragh Kumar, Honey Baisoya (a double winner on the PGTI this year and currently second on the Order of Merit), Udayan Mane, Aman Raj and Syed Saqib Ahmed (all Tour winners this year),.

Also in the fray will be Sri Lankans N. Thangaraja and MithunPerera (both winners on the PGTI this year).

Host course Noida GC will be represented by AmardipSinh Malik (a two-time winner on the PGTI), Gaurav Pratap Singh, Vikrant Chopra, Rahul Bajaj, Arjun Singh Chaudhri and Pradeep Kumar.  

Said QA InfoTech founder Mukesh Sharma at Monday’s launch event here in Delhi, “We are glad to bring the QA InfoTech Open in partnership with PGTI for our professionals. We consider it our corporate social responsibility to promote at least one sport for our country.

Corporate support

“We hope that our professional golfers will work hard to bring gold at the next Olympics. I truly believe that if corporates in India back and promote at least one sport of their choice, we will lead the board in several games and sporting events.”

Added PGTI chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy, “We are delighted to announce the addition of the QA InfoTech Open to the PGTI calendar.

“As the PGTI prepares to enter a new phase with the tour offering world ranking points from next season, the support of new sponsors such as QA InfoTech will prove to be invaluable for Indian professional golf in the long run.”

Also read: Patna Tiger Aman Raj chalks up maiden PGTI win