By Rahul Banerji
The Rs 1 crore Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship at Kolkata’s Tollygunge Club from Tuesday launches the 2023 men’s domestic professional season.
A strong field of 126 that includes defending champion Yuvraj Singh Sandhu and several of the Q School class of 2023 will do battle in the 72-hole stroke play event with the cut being applied after 36 holes.
The field features leading names in Indian professional golf including Udayan Mane, Khalin Joshi, Varun Parikh, Om Prakash Chouhan, Kshitij Naveed Kaul and Aadil Bedi, besides three amateurs.
Aryan Roopa Anand, winner of the PGTI Qualifying School last week, will also be seen in action as he joins the pro ranks this week.
The Bangalore rookie will play his maiden professional rounds alongside Yuvraj Sandhu and popular Sri Lankan Mithun Perera.
The overseas contingent comprises of Anura Rohana, N. Thangaraja and K. Prabagaran (SL), besides Jamal Hossain, Badal Hossain, and Md Akbar Hossain of Bangladesh.
Wide participation
Also in the fray are Nepal’s Sukra Bahadur Rai, American Varun Chopra, Andorra’s Kevin Esteve Rigaill, Japan’s Makoto Iwasaki, and Canada’s Minwoo Park.
Prominent Kolkata-based professionals include Shankar Das, Feroz Ali Mollah, Sunit Chowrasia, Divyanshu Bajaj and Mohammad Sanju.
The three Kolkata-based amateurs participating are Gurmehr Bindra, Rudraksh Banerjee and Sandeep Yadav.
Said Tolly golf captain Deep Banerjee, “We are pleased to host the season-opener on the PGTI this year.
“The tournament provides a great opportunity for the talented junior and amateur golfers of our club to witness India’s leading professionals in action and draw inspiration from them.
“We’re confident the professionals will enjoy the excellent playing conditions at our golf course.
Added PGTI chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy, “We’re excited to begin the 2023 season with the Players Championship presented by Tollygunge Club.
“The handsome prize purse on offer coupled with the impressive field and immaculate playing conditions make for a fascinating week of golf.
“We wish the players all the best, welcome the rookies on the tour and look forward to a highly competitive season.”
Also read: Anand coasts to six-shot win as 34 earn full 2023 PGTI status
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