Sharmila Nicollet and Smriti Mehra will lead the Indian challenge at the 18th edition of the Pro Am of Champions which will be held at the picturesque Classic Golf Resort in Manesar from March 9-10.
The tournament will see a total of 20 golfers - 10 indians and an equal number of foreigners - battle it out for the prize money of Rs 1.1 million.
Apart from Sharmila and Smriti, other notable names in the Indian roster are Neha Tripathi, Vani Kapoor, Ankita Tiwana and Meghna Bal.
Sharmila is the only Indian to have retained her lET card for the second consecutive year.
The international brigade will be led by top Asian women professionals Tiranan Yoopan from Thailand and Ainil Abu Bakar Johani from Malaysia. Other notables on the course will be Penappa Pulsawath from Thailand and Tang Ni Nhung from Vietnam.
The tournament, aimed at developing and growing women’s golf in India, is sanctioned by the Women’s Golf Association of India - the governing body for women’s professional golf in India. The tournament will see Real Estate and Hospitality major, BRYS Group come on board as the presenting sponsor for the first time.
Three individual corporate winners from the Mumbai and Bangalore legs of the tournament will also be part of the grand finale in Delhi.
The Winning Teams and Individual Winners in three different categories from the regional and final legs of the tournament will get a chance to play at the International leg at Mauritius in June. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anil Mehra, Vice Chairman, the India Today Group said, “The tournament will see the participation of over 150 prominent Indian Business leaders who will be playing with some of the top Indian and Asian Women Professional Golfers. I firmly believe that the tournament has not only helped in popularizing the game of golf amongst top corporate leaders, but has also given a unique platform to top Indian professional as well as amateur golfers, to interact informally with some of the country’s key decision makers. It surely is no fluke that the BT Pro-am success story has coincided with the growth of the game in India, and we believe that our association with the Women’s Professional Golf Tour will help develop the women’s game, and ultimately take it to heights that men have reached today.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rahul Gaur, Chairman & Managing Director, BRYS GROUP said, “It gives us immense pleasure to be associated with one of the most premium Golf tournaments in the country. Business Today Pro-Am of Champions is a great association opportunity for BRYS with corporate leaders and Indian Professional golfers, who form an important segment of our target audience.”