Daily Times

LAHORE: The inaugural Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) Inter Club National Tournament will be contested at the enticing and resplendent Lahore Garrison Greens Golf Course over three days from March 5th to 7th here. Weeding out rounds stand completed and while Lahore Garrison Golf Club emerged as the champions of Punjab, Pakistan Air Force Golf Club Peshawar were the leading club of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As for the Federal Territory, the Islamabad Golf Club surfaced as the top one. And from Karachi, the champions of Sindh are DHA Golf Club. This tournament represents an exciting initiative on the part of the PGF, as for the first time clubs have been involved in a battle of this category where the participating teams comprise of two professionals, four amateurs, two junior professionals, two senior amateurs (above 55 years age), two women in amateur category, two junior boys (12 to 18 years) and two junior girls (12 to 21 years). Team members add up to a total of sixteen and the mix is certainly an arduous one as some clubs found it fatiguing to unearth winning players especially in the junior boys and girls category.

The form of play will be stroke play gross and the club team that emerge as the champions will earn a cash prize of one million rupees. During the days of the contest, high quality golf is expected and some nerve shattering moments are likely to develop as the combat will be stiff and stressful. Prominent professionals appearing as front runners for Islamabad are M Shabbir Iqbal and Hamza Amin. Shabbir is the celebrated one of the national golf scene and Hamza Amin is the predominant professional with enormous playing skills.

As against these two, Garrison Club boast of players like Mohammad Matloob and Mohammad Shahzad. The team members from Peshawar look up to professionals of the calibre of Mohammad Naeem and Taimoor Khan to boost their chances. And for DHA Karachi, the leading professionals will be Imran Ali Khan and Mohammad Khalid. These two may be skillful but do not enjoy too many career successes. Outstanding ones in amateur category are Shamail Aziz and Ahmed Sarwar for Islamabad, Hamza Khattak and Taimoor Durrani for Peshawar, Damil Ataullah and Mohammad Shafi for Garrison and Hamza Amin and Omar Khalid for DHA.