Kochi, 30-01-2018
PGTI Cochin Masters presented by CIAL Golf Club returns for its fifth edition
 Prize purse of Rs. 40 lakh
 Leading names in the field include Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Mithun Perera, Udayan Mane, Honey Baisoya, Anura Rohana, Shankar Das, Feroz Ali Mollah
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) will stage the fifth edition of the PGTI Cochin Masters presented by CIAL Golf Club from January 31 – February 3, 2018, at the CIAL Golf Club in Kochi. The second tournament of the season carries a prize purse of Rs. 40 lakh. The Pro-Am event will be played on February 4, 2018.
The tournament features leading Indian names such as former champions Mukesh Kumar (defending champion) and Feroz Ali Mollah, Shamim Khan (2017 PGTI Order of Merit champion), Udayan Mane, Honey Baisoya and Shankar Das, to name a few.
The field will also feature prominent names from overseas such as Anura Rohana (Sri Lanka), Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka), N Thangaraja (Sri Lanka), K Prabagaran (Sri Lanka), Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (Bangladesh), Kunal Bhasin (Australia), Albie Hanekom (South Africa) and Arthur Horne (Swaziland). The one local name in the field is that of Madesh Krishna.
Mr. V. J. Kurian, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited, said, “The PGTI Cochin Masters series has grown as one of the major events in the national golf circuit. CIAL’s golf course has evolved itself to pose exciting challenges to the players. The fairways and greens have matured now. I hope that the fifth edition of the PGTI Cochin Masters series will be a great success.”
Mr. A. M. Shabeer, Executive Director, CIAL, said, “This is the first time that CIAL hosts the event in winter. This brings in favourable weather conditions for the players. At the same time, the course is designed to pose more formidable challenges. All the previous seasons could produce unexpected champions. I expect a thrilling event ahead.”
Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said, “Over the past five years, the PGTI Cochin Masters presented by CIAL Golf Club has grown into one of the premier professional events in southern India. The tournament has been a stepping stone for promising Indian talent such as Shubhankar Sharma who won his maiden title at the inaugural event in 2014. He has since gone on to win on the European Tour. We now look forward to the fifth edition of the tournament which will witness a strong field teeing it up in top-class course conditions.”
The CIAL Golf Club (CGC) has been developed on 130 acres of rolling greens. CGC is designed to play to a length of over 7430 yards and is the only 18-hole golf course in Kerala. CGC is an eco-friendly all weather golf course that is comparable to the best. It is the first course in the country to offer an island green on the 18th hole for a very exciting and challenging round of golf.
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
