The Quaid-e-Azam Open Golf Championship comes in a valued addition for the professional golfers of the country to show their extraordinary skills. The honour of holding the event in the name of the Father of the Nation goes to Lahore Gymkhana. Shezan International Limited has come forward with a three years lucrative deal for the holding of the event. A deal of three year is confirmed so that there won’t be any break in the holding of the prestigious activity. On the opening day of the championship, subsidiary games were held among senior professionals, senior amateurs and veterans of the game while over the next three days (December 9 to 11), golf of quality is expected to be played among about 85 professionals, around 100 amateurs and 10 ladies while the top net professionals will be shortlisted to 40 for the final day round.
“A total of Rs one million, which is on stake, will be distributed among these 40 golfers with the winner getting Rs 146,000,” said Amer Mahmood, captain Lahore Gymkhana, in a press conference. In was the effort of Mohammad Sharif Janjua, Marketing Consultant Shezan and Khawaja Imran Zubair, Convenor Golf, otherwise it was an option lying unattended for a long time. Apart from this, Pakistan Open and Punjab Open are among the events for professionals while Governor’s Cup National Championship and regular weekly and monthly events are features of the golf calendar.
“We have kept the event open to make it a grand championship, which itself is a hard task to organize,” said he. “Lahore Gymkhana has manicured its course to make it tough for the participants who will go out for an 18 hole daily routine for a total of 72 holes,” he added. There are 55 bunkers, 6 water hazards and out-of-bounds on 8 holes which add to the challenge and test of the champions ability and force them to strategize and plan their shots. Wasim Mahmood, Director Marketing Shezan and Khawaja Pervaiz Saeed, Tournament Director were also present during the press conference.
Khawaja Pervaiz stated although the field is open but it is going to be tough for even the fittest professionals like Muhammad Shabbir, Matloob Ahmed, Munir, Shahid Javed Khan, Tariq, Imdad Hussain, Baloch, Mohammad Siddique, Yousaf and Afsar Ali.
As for the young and upcoming professionals, the names of Aadil Jehangir and Shafique Masih stand out and their performances will be under focus.
Notable amongst the amateurs participating in this championship are Ahmed Zafar (Isb), Mohammad Rehman (RP), Nadeem Abbas (Sargodha), Maj Khushal (Abbotabad), Ghazanfar Mehmood (Rwp), Khalid Mehmood (Rwp), Robin Bagh (Sargodha), Wazir Ali (Gym) and Raheel Ikram (Gujranwala).
Kh Imran stated that a request was forwarded to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani to be the guest of honour of the prize distribution ceremony.
Wasim Mahmood stated that Shezan management was glad to promote healthy activity and they were proud to be associated with a championship that was named after the Father of The Nation and hoped to continue support of this event in years to come.
