LAHORE: Attention will once again focus on the par 72, 18 holes Defence Raya Golf Course when the Defence Raya Monthly Medal Golf Tournament tees off through a shot gun start here Saturday (today). The first day is reserved for the seniors category and on Sunday it will be the champion amateurs who will show their skills for top honours. Headlining the cast in the seniors’ race for attaining honours will be single handicappers like Shafiq Bhatti, Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Ikram. These three possess golfing abilities that will help to add competitive luster to the monthly golfing event. The field, as always, is a strong one with likes of long hitters of the calibre of Mohammad Tahir and Mogheez Bokhari and then there is the steady and accurate one Sikandar Hayat. They may be categorized as seniors but seem to be in a mood to throw up their best, on a rather hot Saturday, when the temperature promises not to relent, even a single degree. The team of Sikandar Hayat and Haroon Shafiq and other members who run the tournament have set up the Defence Raya Golf Course well for the occasion and the competing golfers will certainly love the roll on the greens, which makes putting a delight. In the net section on Sunday, the high handicappers, who are comparatively new to golf competitions, are oozing with excitement over this opportunity which gives them a chance to test their golfing skills under tournament conditions. Hitting the ball off the tee may not be a big problem, but it is the short game around the greens that will eventually spoil their scores, if they let nervousness take over. Double digit handicap carrying golfers who normally reflect good temperament and apply their skills well are Khurram Khalid, Dr Javed Iqbal, Adam Khan, Malik Ali Zaman, Usman Badr and Adnan Asif. To curb their chances of victory will be single handicappers of the class of Amer Chaudhary, Amir Nadeem and Adnan Lone. Published in Daily Times, May 12th 2018.