Ahmedabad, 11-01-2020
Gulfam Pappan tops Pre Qualifying III, 28 players qualify for Final Stage
Amateur Mohd Azhar makes a hole-in-one, finishes second
Delhi’s Gulfam Pappan (74-68) won the PGTI’s Pre Qualifying III for the 2020 season after finishing the second and final round with a total of two-under-142.
From a total field of 85 in Pre Qualifying III, 28 players qualified for the Final Qualifying Stage as five players were tied in 24th position when the cut was declared at nine-over-153 at the Kensville Golf & Country Club near Ahmedabad.
Gulfam, who was placed tied fourth and two off the lead after the first round, returned six birdies and two bogeys during his second round of four-under-68 to move into the lead.
Amateur Mohd Azhar of Hyderabad shot a 69 to finish second at even-par-144 thus making a gain of six spots from his overnight tied eighth. Azhar had a sensational front-nine as he fired a hole-in-one on the fifth and sank birdies on the first, second, third, sixth and seventh to be seven-under through the first seven holes. He then conceded four shots on the back-nine with two bogeys and a double-bogey.
Patna’s Md Islam and Delhi-based amateur Harshjeet Singh Sethie finished tied third at one-over-145.
Round one leader Khandaker Rahat Tahsin Parash (76) of Bangladesh slipped to tied fifth at four-over-148 along with Ludhiana’s Viren Thapar and Delhi-based amateur Md Wasil.
All the 82 qualifiers from the Pre Qualifying Stage will now join the 46 exempt players in the Final Stage which is scheduled to be held from January 14 – 17, 2020, at the Kensville Golf & Country Club. The 72-hole Final Stage event will feature a field of 128 players.
The top 80 and ties will make the halfway cut after two rounds of the Final Stage. At the end of the Final Stage, the top 38 players will earn their full cards for the 2020 TATA Steel PGTI season.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
