GKD Gold Cup from June
GKD Gold Cup insituted in memory of the late G.K. Devarajulu, founder chairman of the Lakshmi Machine Works.If there is one golfing event that the Indian amateurs love to showcase their skills, it is the GKD Memorial Gold Cup. The tournament, which forms a crucial leg of the LG All India amateur golf tour, will be played at the picturesque Coimbatore Golf Club course in Chettipalayam from June 26 to 29.The Coimbatore Golf Club, which has been hosting the event since 1999, is geared up yet again to welcome the country’s future stars to test their talents in one of the most difficult courses in India. Ask K. Rajagopal, the President of the Club, and he will tell you its true nature because he knows the course like the palm of his hand.The par-72, 6973-yard course is rated the most difficult because of its wild wind conditions. Its rating is 138 under the USGA (United States Golfing Association) Slope Rating System. “Though it takes the hell out of the golfers in taming the winds, yet they take it as a big challenge. The undulating large greens are pretty fast but is in impeccable condition because of the excellent sprinkler system,” says R. Vijayakumar, Secretary of the Club.This year there is a strong field of amateurs marching in , which will be headed by defending champion Anirbhan Lahiri, India’s top amateur golfer in the merit list, followed by Simarjeet Singh, Jasjeet Singh, H.S. Kang, Abhishek Jha and Amanjyot Singh Lankan flavour.
For the first time, the GKD Cup will also feature players from Sri Lanka. The team is represented by Mithun and K. Prabhagaran. The former was the winner of the SAARC Nations’ golf tournament and the latter, the All India amateur title winner at the very same course in February this year. This year, the local crowd has something to cheer about. The team will feature two bright stars in Raghav Naidu and Srinivasan. The GKD Memorial Gold Cup is sponsored by the Lakshmi Machine Works. For the first time, the tournament will also offer cash prizes to its players. But, only the top ten finishers will get to benefit from it.
