Chaudhary, Agarwal qualify on day 1 of Mercedes Trophy Gurgaon leg

By Rahul Banerji

Local golfers Sidharth Chaudhary (categogy A) and Prabhat Agarwal (category B) qualified for the national finals of the Mercedes Trophy on the first day of the Gurgaon leg at the ITC Classic Golf Resort on Tuesday to take the first two spots available with nett scores of 72.8 and 73.4 respectively.

The Mercedes Trophy 2019 has so far seen 26 qualifiers for the national finals to be played at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune later in the year.

Prominent winners included Balbir Singh Panwar who won the Ballantine’s long drive challenge with a hefty distance of 340 yards, and Gurtek Singh Sodhi, winner of the Standard Chartered closest to pin contest on hole 17 by landing the ball 2 feet, 6 inches from the pin.

In the Mercedes–Benz closest to pin in two shots, Jagdeep Rangar was three feet from the pin on hole 12 while Chirag Pangoriya won the Mercedes-Benz straightest drive contest on hole 7 by landing the ball on the line.

The format of play was double peoria which adjusts handicaps of players to level the playing field and enabling golfers to have a greater chance of qualifying for the national finals.

A total of around 100 golfers participated on the opening day at the Classic course and the event will see another 100 golfers compete for four remaining qualification spots over the next two days.

For a good cause

This year for the first time, Mercedes-Benz’s global charity partner – Laureus Sport for Good Foundation – is also associated with the tournament to raise funds for its programmes in India. While participants can donate online or on-ground at the tournament venue, Mercedes-Benz India will donate an equal amount to match the funds raised from participants.

Globally, the Mercedes Trophy witnesses participation of approximately 60,000 golfers from across 60 countries battling it out for the top prize, making it one of the world’s largest and most coveted sporting events.

Three winners of the national finals will compete against those from tournaments played in 60 countries all over the world in the 30th edition of the Mercedes Trophy world final in Stuttgart, Germany. Mercedes-Benz is also providing an opportunity for beginners to learn golf through their golf clinic programme.

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