Manu lifts Golconda Masters title

Hyderabad: Gurugram’s Manu Gandas ended in a blaze of glory as he lifted his maiden professional trophy at the Golconda Masters Telangana Open 2021, presented by Vooty & Haldi at the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) course, here on Sunday. Gandas (64-58-64-64), the overnight leader by five shots, turned in a card of two-under 64 featuring […]

Hyderabad: Gurugram’s Manu Gandas ended in a blaze of glory as he lifted his maiden professional trophy at the Golconda Masters Telangana Open 2021, presented by Vooty & Haldi at the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) course, here on Sunday.

Gandas (64-58-64-64), the overnight leader by five shots, turned in a card of two-under 64 featuring four birdies and two bogeys to finish with a tournament tally of 22-under 250 and thus prevail by an impressive three strokes at the Rs. 40 lakh event which marked the resumption of the 2020-21 PGTI season after a six-month forced break due to Covid.

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The 25-year-old Gandas collected a cheque worth Rs. 6,46,600 to move up from eighth to fourth in the PGTI Order of Merit. His total earnings for the season now read Rs. 24,12,350. Chandigarh’s Karandeep Singh Kochhar (67-64-63-59), shot the day’s best score of seven-under 59 to jump three spots and finish runner-up at 19-under 253. The 22-year-old Kochhar has now further extended his lead in the PGTI Order of Merit as his season’s earnings stand at Rs. 42,95,130.

Bengaluru’s Chikkarangappa (67-63-61-63), the 2019 winner, ended third at 18-under 254 following a final round score of three-under 63. Manu Gandas began the day with a early bogey on the second and then missed birdie putts from a range of 10 feet on three occasions on the front-nine. After a quiet first half of the day, Manu still comfortably ahead of the rest, began the march to his first title with birdies on the 10th and 11th.

“My ball-striking has been at its best this year and psychologically my process has been more concrete,’’ he said. Local professional Mohd Azhar finished tied 24th at five-under 267. Hyderabad’s Milind Soni won the trophy for the best performance by an amateur as he ended tied 38th at one-under 271. Tej Gangavarapu, the other Hyderabad-based amateur to make the cut, closed the week in 51st place at five-over 277.

Golf Tourism to be encouraged in big way: Kishan Reddy

Hyderabad: Golf Tourism to be encouraged in a big way by involving Indian Embassies abroad, according to Union Minister of Tourism, Culture & Development of North Eastern Region of India G Kishan Reddy.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the seventh edition of the Golconda Masters Telangana Open Golf Championship, Reddy said the government was working to provide succour to tourism sector which has been adversely impacted in the last two years, be it travel agents, tour operators, employees from tourism sector encountered lot of hardship during this time. “We are working to provide succour to them from September 15 by providing one lakh financial assistance to Tour Guides from Tourism Department, and similarly, Rs 10 Lakhs to Tour Operators,” he said.

The Minister said they will initiate Dekho Apna Pradesh to target home grown tourists. “Unfortunately in our country we haven’t encouraged the tourism sector to the desired level, in fact there is no tourism policy in India. It’s not in the State list or the central government list, and is not even in the concurrent list. We have begun to draft a tourism policy, which will be accessible to public on the website.”

He also announced that they will emphasise golf tourism. “It will attract a lot of golf players and enthusiasts. Our country has several advantages, the weather is pleasant throughout the year, the people here are friendly, language and food is not a problem here for tourists and we have several amenities. We will consult with the Golf Associations in the Country and create a plan, which will be publicised through our embassies across the globe and in a big way encourage Golf Tourism to attract Golf Tourists. In this connection we want Hyderabad Golf Association to give guidance to the Government on how to make Golf Tourism a success,” he said.

Attended and handed over prizes at the Golconda Masters (Golf Tournament) Telangana Open 2021 pic.twitter.com/OENl3XD0SH

— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) September 5, 2021

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