Chittagong, 28-03-2017

Inaugural City Bank American Express Chittagong Open tees off on March 29

PGTI to make its debut in Chittagong

Prize purse of Rs. 40 lakh 

Field to feature Md Siddikur Rahman, Shamim Khan, Shankar Das, Mithun Perera, Honey Baisoya, Udayan Mane, Khalin Joshi, Md Zamal Hossain Mollah
 
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, makes its debut in the city of Chittagong with the staging of the inaugural City Bank American Express Chittagong Open.

The tournament, PGTI’s second in Bangladesh this year, will be held at the magnificent Bhatiary Golf & Country Club (BGCC) from March 29 – April 1, 2017, and will carry a prize purse of INR 40 lakhs.

The tournament is co-sanctioned by PGTI and Bangladesh Professional Golfers Association (BPGA) and approved by Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF).

The tournament is set to feature some of the top names of the South Asian region. The Indian challenge will be led by the likes of Shamim Khan (PGTI Order of Merit leader), Shankar Das, Honey Baisoya, Udayan Mane, Khalin Joshi and Feroz Ali Mollah, to name a few. 

The Bangladeshi duo of Md Siddikur Rahman and Md Zamal Hossain Mollah will lead the charge for the host nation while Sri Lanka will also be well-represented by the likes of Mithun Perera, N Thangaraja and Anura Rohana.
  
This is a 72-hole stroke-play tournament featuring a field of 126 players where the cut will be applied after the first 36 holes. The top 50 players and ties will make the halfway cut and continue to play for another 36 holes.

Lt. Col. Md Ikramul Yasin (Retd), CEO, Bhatiary Golf & Country Club (BGCC), said, “On behalf of the President and all members of Bhatiary Golf and Country Club, I thank BPGA and PGTI for co-sanctioning the tournament. We also thank all the officials of BGCC, BPGA, PGTI and RIZ Events for their untiring efforts to make this event happen. We congratulate all participants of this tournament and wish all success for this event.”

Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said, “The inaugural Chittagong Open marks a new chapter in Indo-Bangladesh golfing ties. The tournament is a result of the joint vision of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the Bangladesh Professional Golfers Association (BPGA) to take professional golf to the next level in the South Asian region. PGTI members are excited about playing at the magnificent Bhatiary Golf & Country Club for the first time as the tour makes its debut in the historic city of Chittagong. We are confident that PGTI and BPGA will continue to work together to further strengthen the golfing partnership between India and Bangladesh.”



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