Big guns ready as CNS Open begins from Thursday

KARACHI: The most lucrative golf event in Pakistan – the 20th UMA-Chief of the Naval Staff Open Golf Championship will be played here at Karachi Golf Club from August 6-9.
The tournament offers a cash basket of Rs6 million, which is the biggest prize purse offered in the country.
Following a press briefing on Monday here at Karachi Golf Club, the event was declared open by Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Arifullah Hussaini by teeing off at the picturesque golf course.
Earlier in his address, Patron PN Golf Commodore Ali Abbas apprised the audience of the event’s details.
The championship is open to various categories which include 36 holes for KGC caddies, semi professionals and senior professionals; 18 holes for seniors; nine holes match for veterans and 72 holes match each for professionals and Amateurs. More than three hundred golfers are expected to participate in the different categories of the tournament.
All top national golfers will be seen in action during the tournament. Pakistan No 1 Shabbir Iqbal is the defending champion. Shabbir was seen playing a practice round on the Yellow course along with a host of top national golfers who are getting ready for the prestigious event.
The tournament also offers two cars – A Toyota Terios and Suzuki WagonR – as hole-in-one prizes.
Commodore Abbas also highlighted Pakistan Navy’s role in promoting sports at inter-services, national and international levels especially in the fields of rowing, sailing, shooting and golf.
He said that the regular holding of Chief of the Naval Staff Open Golf Championship since 1995 is the manifestation of Navy’s commitment towards promotion of golf at the national level.
The Patron thanked Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah, Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Arifullah Hussaini and all the sponsors for their continued cooperation and support to the game of golf.
Arifullah Hussaini said that tournaments like the CNS Open championship in the country will help lift the soft image of the city of Karachi and also of Pakistan.
“We are facing law and order situation but no one can deny there are also a lot of positive activities happening in Karachi and also in the country. We also need to look at that aspect as well in order lift the image of the country throughout the world,” Hussaini stressed.