Bangalore, March 6 (IANS): The Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) will be hosting the ninth Europe vs Asia-Pacific amateur team match for the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy March 24-28, according to a press release here Thursday.
The venue of this prestigious event alternates between Europe and Asia every two years with the last edition played in Portugal in April 2012.
M.P. Paul, KGA president, said: “The KGA course after renovation in 2007 is now up to international standards with regard to irrigation and drainage. The quality of the fairways and greens is up to standard and we welcome some of tomorrow’s global stars to our club to see some world class golfing action.”
Dilip Thomas, vice chairman, Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, said: “We chose KGA because of its reputation of a world class course and top class playing conditions and facilities. Since, KGA has won the award as India’s best course at the Asian Golf Awards 2010, it is only appropriate to bring the tournament here."
“Also, the tremendous support extended by the club, club members and Bengaluru media will make this visit to India memorable for the European and Asian players and all the visiting officials.”
Local lad Chikkarangappa, who represented the Asia-Pacific team along with Khalin Joshi at Portugal in 2012, said: “The experience of playing in this tournament in Portugal was simply amazing. You got to be one of the best in Asia-Pacific region as an amateur, perform well not only in India but in the world as well and get your world ranking up in order to make a place for yourself in this prestigious competition.
“It is one of the rare tournaments where I was competing against the best in the world. I am very excited that KGA has got the hosting rights for such an important tournament this year. I am sure KGA will witness a sea of people getting behind the teams and cheering them on.”
The 15-year old tournament was first held in Australia in 1998 and subsequent editions took place in Spain in 2000, Japan in 2002, Italy in 2004, New Zealand in 2006, Spain in 2008, Portugal in 2012.
Indians who have represented Team Asia-Pacific in this event are: Arjuna Awardee Harmeet Kahlon of Chandigarh (1998), former PGTI No.1 Ashok Kumar of Delhi (2000), Keshav Misra (2002), current European Tour pro Shiv Kapur (2002 and 2004), Ajeetesh Sandhu (2006), winner on the PGTI in 2012, the 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist Khalin Joshi (2012), Chikkarangappa S (2012), who was No.2 on the PGTI’s ranking and Rashid Khan (selected in 2010), who last week won the $300,000 SAIL-SBI Open.