PUNE, India – Nov. 8, 2004 – The Royal Challenge Amateur Golf Championship, which teed off at the par-71 Poona Club Ltd. (Golf) on November 9, promises thrilling action with some of country’s leading players set to battle it out for the prestigious title.

The event, scheduled to be played from the 9th-12th November 2004, will see the likes of Amarbir SIngh, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Manav Das, Keshav Misra, Jaskeerat Dullet, among other top amateurs vying for supremacy. The event, which will see top corporates team up with the amateurs will set the ball rolling for the Royal Challenge Amateur Golf Championship on November 8. The tournament will be managed by the Delhi based Tiger Sports Marketing.

Keshav Misra who claimed the Royal Challenge Northern India Amateur title in July will be looking to add to his kitty of title as will Gaganjeet Bhullar who won the Southern India Amateur. Stiff competition will come in form of thrice Sri Lankan Amateur winner Simarjeet Singh, Southern India Amateur (2003) winner, Jaideep Patwardhan; Saurabh Bahuguna, and Anitya Chand all of whom have represented India in international events.

“We are thrilled to sponsor the Royal Challenge Amateur Golf Championship,” said AKMA Shamsuddin, President, Shaw Wallace. “Golf is the fastest growing sport in this part of the world. It is recognizing this fact that the brand Royal Challenge has taken on the sponsorship of the amateur Tour. Any sport requires support at the grass-root level to flourish. By sponsoring the Amateur circuit we hope to provide the perfect platform for our golfers to hone and later showcase their talent on a world stage,” he added.

“Royal Challenge has provided tremendous support to amateur circuit and this is evident from the high quality of events that are being organized,” said Wg Cdr Aparajit, Secretary of the Indian Golf Union.

“ The golf course will add to the exciting contest with its challenging layout and strategically placed hazards. The course is in top condition and lightening fast greens will ensure that the players will have more than just their opponents’ score in mind”, said Anil Seolekar, Captain, Poona Club Golf Course.

With the quality of the playing field and the test that the golf course has on offer, the stage is all set to witness many ‘Royal Challenge’ moments on the Indian amateur circuit.