JAPAN-based Dinesh Chand will spearhead the professionals’ campaign during the inaugural professionals versus amateurs golf clash at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club in Nadi today.
Chand who represented Fiji at the World Cup of Golf in 2001 and 2002 will be the star attraction during the event.
Fiji Professional Golfers Association president David Roche has named a strong line-up which includes Rakesh Chandra, Vikrant Chandra, Apenisa Koroicure, Zoheer Ahmad, Rajiv Prasad, Bill Suruturaga, Waisake Vati, Tomasi Tuivuna, Anasa Serevatu and Arvind Lal.
National reps Roneel Prakash, Olaf Allen Junior and Abid Hussain will lead the amateur charge with Isei Waqa, Praneel Prasad, Munesh Prasad, Asish Chand and Vijay K Singh. The amateur captain Manish Patel has also picked Rohit Chandra, Kaushal Tappoo, James Pridgeon and
Divesh Kumar in his team Professional, Vikrant who is Golf Fiji’s tournament co-ordinator said the amateurs would be sponsored by Tappoos Fiji.
He said Bank South Pacific had come on board to sponsor the professionals.
Vikrant said the sponsors would be providing both teams with T-shirts amongst other things.
“The teams will play four ball matches in the morning with a total of six points up for grabs,” he said.
“In the afternoon there will be 12 single matches with a total of 12 points up for grabs.
“The inaugural event is turning out to be a great spectacle especially with the inclusion of Dinesh Chand.”
Vikrant said the participation of the amateur players in this event would go a long way in their selection for the national team for the Nomura Cup later this year.
“The selection committee has decided that the selected players who do not put in the effort to represent Golf Fiji against the professionals will most probably lose out on future selection as we wish to see dedication and pride towards our association,” he said.
The clash will tee off at 8.30am and members of the public are invited to witness some of the best golfers in action.
