ISLAMABAD: The four-day 59th National Amateur Golf Championship will commence here on Thursday (today) at the Islamabad Golf Club where topnotch golfers from across the country will showcase their skills in various categories. This championship is the most prestigious amateur golfing event of the country. The categories include amateurs men handicap 7 & below, senior amateurs men handicap 12 & below (age 55 & above) and amateur ladies handicap (24 & below). For senior amateurs the championship will be considered as stage-one trials for the selection of Pakistan team that will represent the country in APGC Senior Amateur Championship 2020 later this year. Furthermore, an inter-association match will also be held concurrently with the main championship in the senior amateurs’ men category. And more importantly Sri Lankan golf team will chip in the main championship (individual category), International Team Trophy and J.R. Jayewardene Team Trophy, being played concurrently with the main championship. In amateurs category (men) around 100 golfers, in senior amateurs (men) 50 golfers and in amateur ladies category 25 golfers are expected to participate. Taimoor Khan is the defending champion in amateur men’s category while in amateur ladies category Rimsha Ijaz will be defending the title. Rustam All Chatta will defend his title in senior amateurs and Team Punjab Golf Association will defend their title in inter-association team match event. The PGF is the title sponsor of the event and is proud to host the event in partnership with Islamabad Club and Pepsi Co as co-sponsors.