PESHAWAR, Sept 10: The 39th edition of Frontier Amateur Golf Championship 2003, the oldest in the country, will tee-off from Friday (Sept 12-14) at the PAF Golf Course.

Addressing a press conference, Group Captain (Retd) Fazal-ur-Rehman, secretary PAF Golf Course Peshawar, said on Wednesday that top amateurs golfers of the country would vie for the top slot in the 54 holes championship.

He said the championship was first introduced in 1934 and since then, it has regularly been organized.

GAI Cup has been placed for the net in the ladies event, which will be played over 36 holes, while Bolton Cup for the net winners and Major D. Wanrenan Trophy would be awarded to gross winners in the main categories, he added.

He said, for the first time NWFP Sports Directorate has announced Rs. 20,000/- (twenty thousand) grant for PAF Golf Club while Rs. 50,000/- has been promised by National Bank, the main sponsor of the Championship.

He said more than 160 golfers in various categories in the championship from across the country would compete in the three-day event.

In the Veterans (55) and above) over 36 holes will be held on Sept 13 and 14 with maximum handicap 18, with age 60-65 one stroke, 66-70 two strokes and 71 and above three strokes.

Tariq Mehmood of Lahore Gymkhana will defend his gross title in the main category (0-12 handicap) and Inayat Ullah of PTV will defend his Boltan Cup in the Net category of the same.

In HCP (13-18) Ali Sollary was the last time winners in gross and Dr. Azam was the winners in net, Col. (R) Fassih Ali Anwar was the title winners in veterans gross and Abdul Khaliq will defend his title in net, Master Ali Khanzada was the winners in gross while Kashif Noushad of Mardan will defend his title in net category.—APP