Teeing off: Pakistan’s finest gather for Open Golf Championship

Prize of Rs7 million highest in national circuit

KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading golfers battle it out for top honours at the prestigious 22nd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Open Golf Championship to be played at the Karachi Golf Club (KGC) from August 17.

Leading pros from around the country will feature in the 22nd edition of the tournament, which carries a purse of Rs7 million.

Moreover, the first hole-in-one during the championship (in the professionals’ category) will be rewarded with a Toyota Fortuner, while the amateurs’ hole-in-one will receive a new Suzuki Ciaz.

The opening ceremony of the event was held at the club on Thursday, where Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Athar Mukhtar teed off on the course with the CEO of the main sponsor United Marine Agency (UMA), Sohail Shams.

The championship is open to various categories, which include 36-hole matches for ladies and KGC semi-professionals with a prize money of Rs500,000 and Rs100,000 respectively. These 36-hole matches will be played on 10 and 11 August. The main event will be played for 72 holes over a period of four days.

Shams told The Express Tribune that the championship offers the highest prize money for professionals at the national level. “This time the prize money has been raised to Rs7 million, which makes this championship an international event where international players can participate too,” he said. “So the management will be trying to invite international golfers in the next edition.”

Defending champion Shabbir Iqbal is optimistic about defending his title and at the same time expects to face a stiff challenge from other leading golfers of the country.

“I have been practicing for a long time and will do my best to defend the title,” said Shabbir. “More than a hundred pros will take part in this championship, but fitness and stamina will matter a lot in this strong sea winds.”