ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: Leading amateurs are to vie for top honours in the MCB-sponsored Chief of the Army Staff Open Championship that tees off at the Rawalpindi Golf Course Thursday.

Lt Col (Retd) Muhammad Jameel Khalid, assistant secretary of the Rawalpindi Golf Club said Tuesday that the most interesting competition would be for the COAS Trophy which will be decided on a net score. The event will feature top amateurs including the probables of the Pakistan team for next month’s WAGC Eisenhower Trophy in Malaysia.

Prominent golfers contesting in the event are Taimur Hassan, Shahid Javed, Vaqas Ahmed, Dr. Aimal Zaman and Tariq Mahmood.

In the professional category, a prize money of Rs 300,000 has been put up with the winner pocketing Rs 43,000 and the senior professional taking home Rs 16,000.

The professional field in which Muhammad Tariq will be defending his title includes among others Muhammad Munir, Imdad Hussain, Shabbir Iqbal and Muhammad Akram.

The COAS Championship has been a regular feature since 1992 but could not be held last year because of unavoidable circumstances. It is the only tournament that has competitions in amateur (men), seniors, ladies, juniors and professionals (senior and regular) categories.

Col Jameel said that they had received as many as 210 entries so far including 65 in the professional category.

The Rawalpindi Golf Course, he said was in good shape for the championship that promises an exciting four days of competition.