Sandeep Sandhu poses with his All India Seniors Trophy at Noida Golf Course
Chandigarh’s Sandeep Sandhu, former captain of the Chandigarh Golf Club and record-holder for five consecutive wins on the AVT Champions Tour and winner of the 2023 Hong Kong Seniors, claimed victory at the Indian Golf Union’s (IGU) All India Seniors Championship at Noida Golf Club this week with rounds of 77-76-76 for a 13-over 229, by four strokes over defending champion Gaurav Ghosh, who is currently captain of Royal Calcutta GC.
Ranjit Singh successfully defended his All India Mid-Am title in Noida
In the Mid-Amateur Championship, open to players aged 35-50, Ranjit Singh of Kolkata, son of double Asian Games gold medallist Bunny Lakshman Singh, shot 75-72-71-79 for 9-over 297, and defended his title over Simarjeet Singh, a three-time Mid-Am winner, by five strokes. Incidentally, in 3rd place was Ranjit’s brother Arjun Singh, also from RCGC.
In the Seniors Category B (ages 60-64), Pushpendra Rathore, a former AVT Champions Tour winner, took the title while in the over 65 years category Gangesh Khaitan, a three-time IGU Senior All India National Champion, secured a commanding nine-stroke win.
Gangesh, now 71 years old put on a remarkable display , having come off two shoulder surgeries and a nearly one year layoff from the game. His comeback to top class amateur golf is a testament to sheer will power, discipline and determination that should inspire any golfer. Hard work, patience, consistent practice and physical training has seen Gangesh getting back to the game’s top tier.
The top four finishers overall among the seniors will make the 4 member Indian team for the Asia Pacific Seniors in Vietnam this November of which Gangesh will be a member for probably at least the 10th time.
The All India Seniors division featured 37 participants competing across three categories.
Sadly the tournament was marred by the poor playing conditions prevailing at Noida Golf Club where green speeds were in the 4 to 6 range on stimp-meter. Top class players like David D’ Souza from Bangalore were unable to handle the terrible playing conditions and hot and humid weather and dropped out of contention. The choice of venue by the Indian Golf Union, has detracted from the effort put in by the seniors to get their games ready and also to select the best team for the Asia Pacific championship.
Our national championships at least should use a top class course and considering the IGU has recently secured a lucrative sponsorship deal for their amateur tournaments, some of the benefits should reflect in the quality of the tournaments being held and benefits be passed on to the competitors. The old excuse of IGU having insufficient funds to secure a top class course should no longer be valid.