DIGBOI, India – Nov. 24, 2004 – Mukesh Kumar fired a superb six-under 66 to lead his team of BK Sarma, U Deka and Ms. Renu Singh to a fine win at the pro-am event of the Rs 10-lakh IndianOil Servo Masters Golf 2004, played at the par-72, Digboi Club Golf Links in Assam on Tuesday. The winning team tallied 125 stableford points.
Kolkata’s Yusuf Ali fired the day’s best round of eight-under 64, which led to his team tying with Bangalore’s S. Madhiah at 122 points. Yusuf’s team finished second courtesy a best amateur card.
Meanwhile, India’s latest golfing sensation and Asian Games gold medallist Shiv Kapur returned a card of 66, identical to Mukesh’s, as did Dinesh Raghuvanshi prior to the commencement of the eighth leg of the Amby Valley PGAI Tour. The four-day main event commences at the same venue on Wednesday.
Earlier defending champion and top ranked Amby Valley PGAI Tour golfer Ashok Kumar pulled out of the event after being laid low by a bout of food poisoning. BK Sarma, Executive Director, Assam Oil Division of Indian Oil, inaugurated the event as a grand ceremony held just prior to the start of the pro-am.
Yusuf Ali was accompanied by RC Bora and RK Sharma while Bangalore’s S. Madhaiah’s team comprised of Barun Barpujari, Arijit Roy and C Rigzim.
The tournament was played on a Team Stableford format where the two best nett scores out of three amateurs plus the professional’s score which was mandatory counted towards the team score.
Mukesh as the pro in the winning team was richer by Rs 5,000 while Yusuf and Madhaiah pocketed Rs 3,000 and 2,000 respectively. Yusuf earned an additional Rs 3,000 for returning the ‘Best Individual Round by a Professional’ at 44 points. Mukesh Kumar, Shiv Kapur and Dinesh Raghuvanshi shared the second prize of Rs 2,000 after tying at 42 points apiece.
Among the professionals participating in the pro-am were the likes of thrice Order of Merit winner Mukesh Kumar; Rookie golfer and winner of the Amby Valley MGC Open 2004 (Chennai), Shiv Kapur; twice Honda Siel PGA Championship winner, Uttam Mundy; twice Indian Open winner Ali Sher; Asian PGA Tour star Gurbaaz Mann and winner of over 100 professional titles in a career spanning 35 years, Rohtas Singh.
