Feroz Ali warms up with Pro-Am win

Feroz Ali led his team to a fine victory in the Pro-Am event of the Wills Southern Open, being played at the par-68 Karnataka Golf Association course in Bangalore on Tuesday. The event was restricted to 17 holes instead of the usual 18, due to repairs being carried out on the first fairway.

Ali Sher and team finished second while SSP Chowrasia’s team finished third.

The day’s best card was brought in by Uttam Singh Mundy, who posted a fine three-under 65.

A number of the country’s leading professional golfers participated in the event including the winner of this season’s Hindu Open, Vijay Kumar; last season's 'Player of the Year' award winner Mukesh Kumar; winner of the Ford MGC Open 2000 in Madras last week, Rafiq Ali; 'Rookie of the Year' for the '99-2000 Wills Sport Golf Tour season, Harmeet Kahlon and veterans like Rohtas Singh, Shiv Prakash and Basad Ali.

Feroz Ali and his team of Ravi Shanmugam, HA Gopinath and Avinash Giri tallied 101 points of which Feroz contributed 33. As the pro in the winning team Feroz was richer by Rs 5,000.

At second place with 100 points were Ali Sher and his team of NK Bajaj, S Kothawala and CK Kumar. Ali Sher’s team beat SSP Chowrasia’s team constituting Sumit Rathor, V Sridhar and Austin Roach on the fourth card which translates to the worst among the four team members. Ali Sher brought in 30 points and earned Rs 3,000 for taking his team through to the second spot, while Chowrasia carded 33 points and was richer by Rs 2,000.

Uttam Singh Mundy scored a fine 37 points, and earned Rs. 2,000 for bringing in the day's best score.

The amateurs in the top three teams each received glittering trophies.

The prizes were given away by Mr. Nitin Asthana, Branch Manager, ITC Ltd. at a prize distribution function compared by former Femina Miss India winner, Manpreet Brar. The prize presentation was followed by a gala dinner at the KGA club premises.

A total of four members in the Pro-Am made up a team with the pro score compulsory and the two best out of three nett stableford points of the amateurs aggregating the team total.