Bengaluru, 30-05-2016
LP Cup tees off on May 31
Top players and celebrities make up field at Pro-Am
The Louis Philippe Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Indian golf circuit. Its fifth edition, to begin at the Karnataka Golf Association on May 31, promises to be an exciting affair with all the top players on the Professional Golf Tour of India lining up for the handsome prize money of Rs 1.2 crore, the second highest purse for a domestic event.
The city-based league tournament will see eight teams in action this year, with three-time champions Navratna Ahmedabad leading the charge once again. Golf lovers of Bengaluru can hope to see players like SSP Chowrasia, Rahil Gangjee, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Chirag Kumar in action.
A number of celebrities, including cricketers Kapil Dev, Syed Kirmani and Venkatesh Prasad and actor R Madhavan, hockey player Ashish Ballal and athlete Ashwini Nachappa will also match their golfing skills in the pro-am competition on May 31 along with the top professionals.
This year’s Louis Philippe Cup will see an interesting innovation, with the presence of a mentor cum manager in each team. He will not only help the players compete as a team but also fine-tune the strategy to be adopted over the four days.
Sooraj Bhat, COO of Louis Philippe & Allen Solly said, “Louis Philippe is proud to be associated with the 5th edition of this prestigious event. Golf is a game that symbolises style and sophistication, epitomizing the nuances of our brand. We welcome all the teams and their star players to this year’s tournament and look forward to watch them compete for the coveted Louis Philippe Cup. We encourage sports fans across the nation to support their city teams and recognize the outstanding quality of pro golfers India continues to produce.”
Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, Director, PGTI, said, "The previous editions of the Louis Philippe Cup have set high standards and the tournament has been very popular with the players. The four-day, 72-hole stroke play format mirrors the format to be used at the Rio Olympics 2016 and adds to the excitement of the event. The addition of a 3-day team training camp prior to the event will help every team raise the bar. The introduction of highly experienced managers to be attached with each team will further motivate the teams and help them function better as a unit. This year’s event promises to be the most competitive and exciting edition so far."
A team from Chandigarh makes a comeback after two years while NSports Hyderabad are making their debut this time. Laqshya Mumbai, Take Chennai, Zion Hills Bengaluru, DLF Crest Gurgaon and Jaypee Greens Greater Noida are the teams in fray.
Interestingly, the tournament mirrors the stroke play format that will be used at the Rio Olympics later this year. SSP Chawrasia, who has already qualified to represent India in the quadrennial extravaganza, will be turning out for a strong Take Chennai team as a sponsor pick.
Each team, in fact, was allowed to bring in a player of its own preference apart from the top 16 automatic choices to strengthen the field further. Among the others, Sri Lanka’s top golfer Mithun Perera (Ahmedabad), Mandeo Singh Pathania (Greater Noida), Himmat Rai (Chandigarh) and young Manu Gandas (Gurgaon) will be there to help their respective teams.
Rishi Narain, CEO & Founder of RN Golf Management, said, "The best two scores of the three players are counted each day which gives every team a fair chance of being in contention till the final round.”
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
