RAWALPINDI, May 7: Defending champion Muhammad Munir of PTCL and a host of other top professionals and amateurs are to compete in the Prime Minister of Pakistan Gold Medal Golf Championship opening at the Rawalpindi Golf Club on Friday.

Brig Badrul Islam Lodhi, honorary secretary of club told a news conference on Wednesday that the PSO-sponsored championship had attracted around 250 golfers who would be taking part in different categories.

Besides professionals, who were allowed to take part in the championship for the first time last year, there would be competitions for senior professionals (55 plus), a seniors event (55 and above) and ladies.

While the professionals will be competing over 54 holes in the three-day championship, so will the amateurs. The competition for senior professionals, a 36-hole affair is to take place on the first two days while the seniors will play over 18 holes on May 10. The ladies tournament on May 10 and 11 will be contested over 36 holes.

The championship offers a prize purse of Rs 4 lakh with the top professional being awarded between Rs 55 to 60 thousand. “We are still awaiting the formula for calculation of prize money which is to be given to us by the Pakistan Golf Federation,” Brig Lodhi said.

The medals would be awarded on net score while for gross winners trophies have been put up with a 21” colour television for the golfer scoring a hole-in-one.

Salman Yasin Khawaja of the Rawalpindi Golf Club was the winner of the medal last year while in the ladies competition, Mrs Huma Lee was the champion.

Brig Lodhi said that this championship was originally scheduled for April but had to be put back because of the SAF Games, which however never took place.

APP adds: Meanwhile, the organisers are hoping to make the most of the rains forecast for the next couple of days.

“The rains, as forecast for the next couple of days, will greatly smoothen up the 18-hole Rawalpindi Golf Course,” Lodhi said.

“Otherwise, the intense heat will toughen up the fairways and greens,” added associate secretary of RGC, Lt Col Jameel Khalid.

The prize money has been enhanced from Rs 250,000 of last year when the event was again renamed to PM Gold Medal from CE Gold Medal and it was also made ‘Open’ category allowing the professionals to compete for the first time.