Shiv Kapur, Ashok Kumar to lead field in CG Golf Open

Mumbai, May 2 (UNI) Exciting golf is on the cards as European Tour regular Shiv Kapur and current PGTI Order of Merit leader Ashok Kumar bid for the title at the richest event on the domestic circuit -- Rs 70 lakh Crompton Greaves Open which will tee off at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club here tomorrow.

Speaking on the eve of the tourament after he held a specially designed golf clinic to enthrall Mumbai's golfing fraternity as an added attraction at the Pro-Am competition, Shiv Kapur said, ''The Crompton Greaves Open is one of the foremost events on our tour and every Indian professional golfer has been looking forward to playing this tournament. I am sure we will witness some excellent golf here this week as the competition on the tour is getting tougher each week.'' Supporting the richest purse on the domestic circuit, Rs 70 lakh Crompton Greaves Open holds the distinction of being the richest professional golf tournament to be held in the country and offers the biggest winner's purse this year -- Rs 11,34,000.

The field includes foreigners Richard Backwell and Chris Haines, Japanese professionals Kentaro Ishihara, Shinji Fukushima and Kunal Bhasin along with Shahid Javed Khan and Matloob Ahmed from Pakistan who will give leading Indian professionals like the current PGTI Order of Merit leader Ashok Kumar, Digvijay Singh, Harmeet Kahlon, C Muniyappa, Arjun Singh, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Prakash, Amardip Sinh Malik, Mukesh Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Naman Dawar, A S Lehal, Uttam Singh Mundy, Amritinder Singh, Gurbaaz Mann, Chiragh Kumar and Himmat S Rai, some tough competition.

''The course is playing well and I am looking forward to teeing it up this week,'' said Richard Backwell who played a practice round today. ''The greens are rolling well,'' added Kunal Bhasin.

Meanwhile, Gurbaaz Mann who also practiced today added, ''The greens are in excellent shape as we expect them to be at the BPGC and I am sure the scores will be really low this week.'' MORE UNI