Edited by Anand Datla
May 14, 2015: Bengaluru is ready and set to host the 12th edition of the SAARC Golf Championship, starting today at the very well maintained course of the Karnataka Golf Association. India is the reigning champion and the heavy favourite to take a ninth title in this event.
The tournament features three of the best amateurs from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and hosts India. The Indians won the inaugural event in 1999 and have since been holding fort at this off and on tournament over the past 15 years.
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the only other teams to have won this event. But the absence of the latter two teams from this years competition have robbed it of some sheen. Maldives and Nepal are the other members that are not participating this year.
The tournament will be played over three days, with the finale set for 16 May.
Viraj Madappa will lead the Indian challenge, aided by Jaibir Singh and Pukhraj Gill as they seek to win the title for an eighth successive time. Jaibir is also the manager of this young team.
The tournament has seen players such as Siddikur Rahman, Mithun Perera and K Prabagaran make impressive performances before going on to become international stars.
The event will start off with a stroke play competition on Thursday, the scores of which shall be used to establish the seeding for the next two days.
In the semis on Friday, the first-placed country will play the third-placed team with the second and fourth placed teams teeing off against each other. Friday’s competition will be a 36-hole contest.
The final on Saturday will be an 18 hole battle between the two winners from the Friday.
Interestingly, even though Pakistan are not in competition, they are scheduled to play a series of friendlies on Saturday.
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