RAWALPINDI, Sept 14: Muhammad Munir is to defend his professional title in the 13th COAS Open Championship slated to tee off at the Rawalpindi Golf Club on Thursday.

Muhammad Jameel Khalid, assistant secretary of the club told journalists on Tuesday that the event carries a prize money of Rs 400,000 with Rs 350,000 reserved for professionals and another Rs 50,000 for the senior pros.

The championship for which nearly 300 entries have been received is to be contested in seven categories. Besides the professional and the senior pros, there will be competitions for amateurs, ladies, juniors, seniors and a subsidiary event.

With the qualifying round slated for Thursday's opening day, the championship will begin in earnest from Friday running through to Sunday. The professionals will be competing over 54 holes, 18 holes each day on a course which Jameel said was not in the best of conditions.

The reason cited is the construction of a clubhouse and a restaurant besides new grass and greens being raised. Lakes are also being made to make the course more challenging. Meanwhile, Jameel said that competition between Pakistan and India for the Ravi Shastri Kirlosker Trophy will take place at the Royal Palm Golf Course in Lahore from Oct 2 to 4.

This event will be followed by the National Amateur Championship that has attracted teams from Sri Lanka, Nepal and India with an Iranian ladies team also due to take part.