19th Servo Masters Golf commences in Digboi with 45 lakh prize purse
Our Correspondent
DIGBOI: The 19th edition of Indian Oil Servo Masters Golf 2018 commences from November 21 to 25 here at the historic Digboi Golf Links being organized under the aegis of the professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and hosted by AOD Digboi.
Addressing the media here at the office of the Golf Links, Samapth Chari the chief Referee and Technical Director PGTI said that the field would feature a total 99 players including 97 professionals and two amateur. The top fifty 50 players and ties would make a cut after round two.
According to him, the field would feature top professionals such as defending and two-time champion Shamim Khan, six time champion Mukesh Kumar, three time champion champion Shankar Das as well as former winners Kunal Bhasin and Harendra Gupta. The other names to watch out for would be Akshay Sharma, M Dharma, Amardip Malik and last year’s runner-up Veer Ahlawat. Reknoown Sri Lankan golfers Mithun and N Thangaraja would also vie for the champiinship.
Meanwhile, Anup Tamuli the General manager In –Charge Human Resource here at AOD the partnering organizing, threw brief light on the status of the Golf course terming beside welcoming the golfers across the globe terming ‘ the magnificent green layout is ready and superb, the golfers would enjoy the tournament amidst the serene beauty’ Deben Bhumiz, Biren Karmakar, Deep Raj Chetia, Sunil Mura, Jai Kishan Naidu and Dulal Kalowar who hails from Digboi.
“Servo Masters Golf, has over the years, played a pivotal role in promoting professional golf in the North-Eastern region of the country. We look forward to a fascinating week of golf as the leading Indian professionals tee it up at the serene Digboi Golf Links”, said Veenit Kaul of Indian Oil Corporation.
However, Biswajit Hazarika the Secretary of the Organizing Committee said that promotion of sports by Indian Oil is aimed at providing opportunities for stable sports career. Highlighting the beauties of the landscape located amidst pristine location surrounded by lofty hills on its three sides, he added that the course was quite ready and the golfers would enjoy to the fullest making the event a memorable one besides promoting the sports cause of the organization adding ‘ 65 players on different areas of sports have been promoted so far by AOD to realize the ends’ . According to him, the Indian Oil has been striving seriously and promoting the cause of various sports items including cricket, football, chess, badminton etc on various fronts for different age groups to encourage the deserving talents and escalate them to the professional international arena.
The prize purse of the tournament being 45 lakh, more of the professionals are expected to find way into the tournament making it a finest episode ever played and tougher for the contenders. However, the prize money of the tournament includes 16.165 percent for the winner, 11.165 percent for the second while 6.265 and 5.065 percentages for the third and the fourth position holder respectively.
It may be added here that the venue, the picturesque Digboi Golf Links, is a golfer’s delight. The course is a one of its kind in terms of ambience as it is situated among the lush tea estates and thick forest of Eastern Assam. The historic Digboi Golf Links is bordered by the Dehing forest reserve on three sides and the magnificent Patkai range of mountains on the fourth. This 72 par course with a yardage of 6329 could also be termed as the best in the north-eastern part of the country due to its magnificent layout.
The tournament slated to be inaugurated on 21st morning would conclude with Pro- AM event slated on the 25th November.
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