Four seek title hat-trick at third leg of US Kids Golf North

By Rahul Banerji

Four youngsters will be going for a hat-trick of victories in the third leg of the US Kids Golf India at the ITC Classic Golf and Country Club.

The fourth leg will be held the very next day. Tee-offs start at 7.30 am.

With Covid regulations still in place, around 50 young golfers will be seen in action as they aspire for more Priority Points to qualify for the international events on the US Kids Golf series.

The international events are to be held in Europe and the US next year.

Many of the current lot, who have already had a taste of competition and world-class golf courses in Europe and the US, are hoping to get another shot at them.

Those looking to complete a title hat-trick in the third leg after winning the first two events in late October are Chaitanya Pandey (boys Under-10), Shambavi Chaturvedi (girls Under-10), Parnika Sharma (girls 11-12) and Mahreen Bhatia (girls 13-14).

“The kind of competitive spirit these kids displayed was fantastic. After the game, the way they exchanged notes showed how they feed off each other,” said Rajesh Srivastava, President of US Kids Golf India.

Good potential

Former professional on the Indian and Asian Tours Amit Dube, now a coach and tournament director, US Kids Golf India, added, “There is so much potential in these boys and girls.

“They have the advantage of playing on excellent Championship courses with the incentive of playing abroad. And these kids and their parents are very keen on seeing their kids make the big break on the international circuit.”

One of the most keenly fought groups is expected to be boys Under-12 where Arshvant Srivastava and Bhawesh Nirwan have split honours, both winning one leg each by narrow margins.

While Arshvant won the first leg in a play-off; Bhawesh edged out Arshvant by one shot late in the closing stages of the competition in the second leg.

Another group in which the boys are expected to face a close battle is the boys 13-14 group, where both previous winners, Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Banerjee Sodhi, have once again entered.

They will also contend with Zorawar Randhawa, son of one of India’s golfing legends, Jyoti Randhawa.

Annika Chendira and Aanya Dandriyal will renew their battle in the third leg after having won once each in the first two legs.

Also read: Chaitanya Pandey, five others do the double at US Kids Golf