Sindh Amateur Golf tees off at KGC today

KARACHI: The Sindh Golf Association (SGA) will celebrate Pakistan Day in style by hosing the UMA 19thSindh Amateur Golf Championship which tees off here at the picturesque course of the Karachi Golf Club from Friday (today).

Asad I.A Khan, President SGA, told reporters here at KGC on Thursday that most of the province’s top amateurs, seniors, juniors, ladies and veterans will feature in the three-day championship.

“The Sindh Amateur Championship is one of our most prestigious events and we will be staged in a befitting manner,” said Asad, an avid golfer, who will be in contention for the seniors’ title of the championship.

Asad said that SGA and the event’s title sponsors – United Marine Agencies (UMA) – have planned to hold special events to mark Pakistan Day during the championship.

“The idea is to remember the contributions and sacrifices of our forefathers on Pakistan Day,” said Asad as he pointed out towards a couple of standees placed along the backdrop that carried the names of several prominent leaders of the Independence movement.

Commodore Ghazanfar Abbas, KGC’s COO, said that a special Tambola night has been planned on March 23 where children will sing national songs to commemorate Pakistan Day.

Meanwhile, several leading players from the various clubs of the city will be vying for the Sindh amateur title. Among the various title contenders will be former champion Zohaib Asif. Then the list includes several low-handicappers from clubs like KGC and Defence Authority Country and Golf Club.

Ahmed Baig, the title holder, won’t be defending his title as he has recently turned pro.

More than 160 players will be featuring in the various events of the championship. Played alongside the championship will be the three-day seniors’ event. The event will serve as trials to select the Sindh seniors’ team for next month’s National Amateur Championship to be held in Lahore. Col Mansoor Akram is the defending champion in the seniors’ category.

The ladies event will be played over 36 holes while the juniors’ contest will be played over 18 holes. The veterans’ will be play 18 holes but over two days.

Asad said that like last year, SGA will keep a special prize for the first hole-in-one recorded during the championship.