SOME of Fiji’s top amateur golfers, rising juniors and overseas talent are set to converge this weekend as Golf Fiji hosts its Eastern Tournament a world-ranking event carrying both international opportunities and national selection implications.
The tournament will tee off on Saturday and conclude on Sunday, with more than 80 entries already confirmed and numbers expected to climb to around 120 players by the weekend.
Golf Fiji Tournament Director Rohit Chandra said the tournament will feature different playing formats across divisions, with the spotlight firmly on the A-grade competition.
“This tournament is a world-ranking event organised by Golf Fiji.
“The tournament will be played over 54 holes for all A-grade golfers, which means they will play 27 holes on Saturday and another 27 holes on Sunday.”
The remaining divisions juniors, ladies, B-grade and C-grade will contest a 36-hole format, with players completing 18 holes each day.
Beyond the titles, Chandra said the tournament presents an opportunity for golfers to earn world-ranking points that could open doors to overseas competitions.
“The winner of the event will automatically get world-ranking points, which could entitle them to overseas tournaments this year or next year.”
The tournament will also serve as an important selection platform for Fiji’s national setup ahead of the Pacific Games in Tahiti next year.
“In sync with this event, we are also having our Fiji team trials for the Pacific Games that will be held in Tahiti next year,” he added.
Interest among young players has also been strong, with Golf Fiji offering free entry to most participants under the age of 18.
The A-grade division is expected to attract between 20 and 25 competitors and will feature several of Fiji’s leading amateur golfers.
Chandra confirmed Fiji’s number one amateur, Shakeel Pillay, is expected to compete alongside other top contenders.
With the tournament being held in Suva, local players are also expected to enjoy strong support.
Adding further intrigue will be the participation of an elite golfer travelling from New Zealand who plays off a plus-three handicap, setting up what Chandra expects to be a highly competitive contest for Fiji’s elite squad members.
In the women’s field, Fiji’s leading amateur golfer Raina Kumar is also expected to feature alongside other strong contenders from Suva.
Lunch will be provided by Golf Fiji across both competition days as anticipation builds for what promises to be one of the country’s strongest amateur golf events of the year.
