January 27: The Navy Pro-Am Golf Tournament gets under way at the par-70 United Services Golf course, here, from tomorrow. The Rs five lakh event will be played on the format similar to the AT&T Invitational Pebble Beach on the USA PGA Tour. The brand-new tournament will feature a pro-am to be held on the final two days alongwith the main event for professionals.Some of the biggest names on the Wills Sports Golf Tour will be seen in action here, which will be among of the very few major event played at this course. Among those teeing off tomorrow will be last year's Mahindra Golfer of the Year, Lucknow's Vijay Kumar, Shiv Prakash of Kanpur, twice Indian Open winner Ali Sher and Calcutta's Indrajit Bhalotia, reigning champion of the Crompton Greaves All-India Matchplay which will follow this event.
Vijay winner of the just concluded ONGC-Noida Open Golf Championship, hoped to continue with his winning ways. ``I have been winning a few tournaments as a bachelor,'' said the burly golfer who marriedrecently. ``Now with my wife around, I hope to be more successful.''
The winner will pocket Rs 83,300 while the runner-up stands to gain Rs 55,550. Day's best would fetch Rs 6,250. Though not considered a very long course, the narrow fairways and small greens will need a lot of accuracy. With the sea-side location of the course, anticipation of winds will also be critical.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.