Golfer Singh brings glory to city, nation

 

 

NAGPUR’S Yogendra Singh became the first Indian to win a Rotary Club International Golf Tournament that was held from June 6-9 in Scotland.

Singh brought laurels to the city and the nation by emerging champion in 66th edition of the popular tournament that was held at St Andrews, Scotland.

Singh played impressively with gross scores of 85 and 83 over the first two days to make cut for the final two rounds. After making it to the top 45, Singh played final two rounds with gross score of 87 & 86. That earned him 85 Stableford points and the trophy.

In the four-day annual tournament, played in Stableford format, over 300 golfers from 27 countries took part. It is huge achievement that a player from Nagpur won it for the first time.

All players had to play qualifying matches on June 6, 7th and the top 45 players were then selected for the finals played over next two days on St Andrews Old Course which was a 36-hole Stableford Competition.

The playing conditions were extremely difficult with gusting winds and lightning fast greens. However, Singh overcame the difficult odds to play well and ultimately win the international golf championship.

This has put the name of a golfer from Nagpur on boards of the most prestigious golf course in the world where he has joined an elite band of players including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Sam Snead, Bobby Locke, John Daly, Louis Oosthuizen and Zach Johnson.

Singh, an industrialist and vice-president of Vidarbha Golf Association (VGA) said, hopefully, this will inspire others in Nagpur to pick up the game of golf and win tournaments all around the world. This may also inspire the government authorities in Nagpur to build a public golf course for the Nagpur residents so that more people in the city can learn the sport and play competitively.