PGTI event to be held in Coimbatore

After a two-year hiatus, the city will host an Indian Professional Golf Tour event when the PGTI Players Championship is held here from April 2 to 5.
Five amateurs and 120 professionals, including defending champion Rashid Khan, Chiragh Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Chikkarangappa, Angad Cheema, M Dharma, Harendra Gupta, Om Prakash Chouhan and Shankar Das, will take part in the event.
Karan Taunk, one of India's top amateurs, will play his first event as a professional at Coimbatore.
The field also features foreign professionals such as Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka), N Thangaraja (Sri Lanka), Shivaram Shrestha (Nepal) and Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (Bangladesh), according to a release by the PGTI.

The local challenge would be led by Coimbatore-based professionals Joseph Chakola, S Muthu, Ilayaraja C and M Rajesh Kumar.
The PGTI Players Championship carries a prize money of Rs 30 lakhs.

The last edition of the PGTI Players Championship at Coimbatore witnessed a thrilling finale as Rashid Khan claimed a play-off victory against Vikrant Chopra to clinch his first professional title on Indian soil.
R Shyam Sunder, Golf Captain, Coimbatore Golf Club, said, "Coimbatore Golf Club is happy to welcome the PGTI golfers. The course is at its best since inception and is sure to challenge the golfers' skills. The summer heat this year is an addition to the famous winds of Coimbatore."

Padamjit Sandhu, Director PGTI, said, "We look forward to returning to the Coimbatore Golf Club after two years. The strong field and tough playing conditions are likely to produce an exciting week of golf. Coimbatore has over the years been an important centre for golf in India and it will be our endeavour to further promote professional golf in the region in partnership with the Coimbatore Golf Club.