Golconda Masters Golf Championship tees off today

Hyderabad: Golfers from across India and overseas will be in action as the fourth edition of the annual Golconda Masters Golf Championship tees off at the Hyderabad Golf Club on Thursday. As many as 123 players will vie for the Rs 30 lakh prize money in the four-day tournament being organised by the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

The winner will pocket Rs 4.5 lakh while the runner-up will take home Rs 3 lakh. The third and fourth placed players stand to gain Rs 1,79,940 (5.99% of the prize money) and Rs 1,49,940 (4.99%) respectively. There are cash prizes to be won till the 50th position. Apart from India’s leading professionals, the field will also feature golfers from Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia.

Top Indians in the fray include Asian Tour regulars Khalin Joshi, Chikkarangappa, Rahil Gangjee, Viraj Madappa, Himmat Rai, Shamim Khan, Harendra Gupta, Syed Saqib Ahmed, Udayan Mane and Honey Baisoya. Foreign challenge will be led by the Sri Lankan quartet of Anura Rohana, Mithun Perera, N. Thangaraja and K. Prabagaran as well as Australian Kunal Bhasin, Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah and South African Albie Hanekom.

The Hyderabad Golf Club course offers 18 challenging holes that bring players up close with the heritage and beauty of Golconda Fort and Naya Quila in particular. The ‘Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course’ award bestowed on it by National Tourism, reiterates the pleasant experience that HGA provides at its par-71 layout spread over 212 acres.

“It is indeed a proud moment for us. We look forward to seeing the country’s top golfers vie for the honours in such a spectacular and historic setting of the Golconda,” HGA president J. Vikramdev Rao said. “The Golconda Masters is giving an impetus to golf in Hyderabad and Telangana as we are seeing heightened interest in the game,” HGA Captain C. Dayakar Reddy added.

PGTI CEO Uttam Singh Mundy was upbeat. “The tournament has emerged as an important leg on the PGTI schedule over the last three years thanks to the strong support of the Hyderabad Golf Associa-tion and Telangana Tourism. An enthralling week of golf is in store at India’s most spectacular golfing venue,” he said.