Strong field for Kolkata Challenge golf

Olympian Gaganjeet Bhullar is in the fray
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: AFP

Olympians Gaganjeet Bhullar, S.S.P. Chawrasia and Udayan Mane in addition to other prominent Indian golfers such as Rahil Gangjee and Yuvraj Sandhu will be seen in action in the $300,000 Kolkata Challenge, starting at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC), here on Thursday.

A total of 156 players from 31 countries will compete in the event, the first in the two-week Indian leg of the HotelPlanner Tour (earlier known as the Challenge Tour) and co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India.

The field at the RCGC includes leading HotelPlanner Tour names such as England’s Eddie Pepperell and Jamie Rutherford, Italy’s Renato Paratore, Spaniard Adri Arnaus and American Matt Oshrine.

The historic 7014-yard course, which favours long hitters and punishes inaccurate shots, will challenge the golfers with its large number of water hazards.

The second event of the Indian leg, Delhi Challenge, will be held at the Classic Golf and Country Club at Gurugram from March 20 to 23.