UBL Independence Day Cup tees off tomorrow

KARACHI: It is likely to be a mouthwatering finale to what has so far been quite a competitive Karachi leg of the national golf circuit this season.
The UBL 7th Independence Day Cup Open Golf Championship which tees off here at the picturesque Defence Authority Country and Golf Club from Thursday (tomorrow) will provide a perfect chance to the country’s top two professionals – Shabbir Iqbal and Muhammad Munir – to renew their rivalry.
In the season-opening CNS Open at KGC earlier this month, it was Munir who aggregated a stunning -21 to win the crown. Later, Shabbir extracted sweet revenge and retained the Sindh Open at ASCC last week.
The Independence Day Cup will be the third and final event of the Karachi circuit which has offered a combined prize money of over ten million rupees.
“We are all set for this prestigious championship and are confident of delivering yet another successful event,” Brig Tariq Rafique told reporters here at DACGC on Tuesday.
Over 300 golfers are expected to participate in the tournament which also includes 100 professionals from all over the country. Around 200 golfers will participate in the main match.
The Rs2 million championship has attracted a confirmed entry list comprising of almost all the top players of the national circuit. And it has also roped in United Bank Limited (UBL) as the title sponsor. The main championship will be played from August 21-23.
Pakistan No. 1 Shabbir Iqbal will be defending his crown this year but is likely to face some stiff competition from a host of challengers from Karachi and other parts of the country.
The professionals will be battling it out for a prize purse of 1.8 million while the competition for senior professionals will carry at stake a purse of Rs200,000. A host of subsidiary events will also take place alongside the main championship for ladies, juniors, seniors and veterans.