Srinagar, Sept 14 (KNS): The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, along with J&K Tourism Tuesday announced the J&K Open 2021 Presented by J&K Tourism, which will be held at the picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) in Srinagar, from September 15 to 18.
The event will carry a prize purse of Rs. 40 lakh and the Pro-Am event will be held on September 19.
As per a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the tournament which will witness participation by 125 golfers (119 professionals and six amateurs) is supported by Presenting Partner J&K Tourism, Principal Partner J&K Golf Development & Management Authority, Hos Venue Royal Springs Golf Course and Associate Partner Incredible India.
"The tournament is part of J&K Tourism's great initiative of promoting golf tourism in the region. J&K is blessed with some spectacular golf courses such as Royal Springs Golf Course (Srinagar), Pahalgam Golf Course (Lidder Valley), Gulmarg Golf Club and Jammu Tawi Golf Course. These courses provide a mesmerizing experience to golfers."
The top Indian professionals in the fray include Olympian Udayan Mane, Indian star Jyoti Randhawa, PGTI Order of Merit leader Karandeep Kochhar, as well as international winners such as Rashid Khan, Khalin Joshi, Viraj Madappa and Chikkarangappa S (former winner at Adyal Springs Golf Course) and other leading Indian players such as Aman Raj, Kshitij Naveed Kaul and Manu Gandas.
The statement reads that the foreign challenge will be led by the Bangladeshi duo of Md Zamal Hossain Mollah and Badal Hossain,
"The local challenge will be led by J&K-based players including professionals such as Bhawani Singh Parmar, Pawan Parihar, Fayaz Ahmed Langoo and Raghav Wahi as well as amateurs such as Sanjeev Dugra, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Zubair Hasan Zargar, Arsalan Rah, Adnan Rah and Umar Yaqoob Mir."
Meanwhile, as per the statement, Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Sarmad Hafeez said that they are proud to support the J&K Open 2021 presented by J&K Tourism, as Golf Tourism is an integral part of the larger objective to promote tourism in J&K.
Hafeez said that the return of men's professional golf to the Kashmir valley gives a great opportunity to showcase J&K as an attractive golfing destination. "We look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership with the PGTI."
Quoting Director, J&K Tourism, GN Itoo, the statement reads that J&K has a wide variety of magnificent golf courses which provide the ultimate golfing experience to tourists. "With the staging of events such as the J&K Open 2021 Presented by J&K Tourism we look forward to transforming J&K into a major hub for Golf Tourism and into the Golfing Capital of the country."
Director SKICC and Secretary RSGC, Bakshi Javid Hamayun said that golfing in Paradise could never be better and J&K Open 2021 paves way for excellence in golfing for the state.
CEO PGTI, Uttam Singh Mundy said that the staging of the J&K Open 2021 Presented by J&K Tourism is another positive trend for the PGTI since the resumption of the tour in the first week of September.
"The tournament is in line with our long-term objective of promoting professional golf in different parts of the country in order to grow the sport further. We appreciate the support of J&K Tourism, J&K Golf Development & Management Authority and the Royal Springs Golf Course in helping us stage this event. We are confident the professional golfers will have a delightful experience while competing in the divine setting of the Royal Springs Golf Course." (KNS)