AVT Champions Tour in Kolkata sees big turnout

Dilip Thomas (Executive Vice Chairman, AV Thomas & Co. Ltd) presents overall trophy to Sandeep Sandhu

The AVT Champions Tour, which has held some 15 editions since its start in 2019 is open to competitive golfers over 50 years of age with handicaps of 14 and below and is played over 36 holes strokeplay format. The Kolkata leg held at the legendary Royal Calcutta GC for the 3rd time, was once again attended by 100 golfers including 90 who travelled from outside Kolkata.

The tournament was initiated in 2019 by Dilip Thomas, a former member of the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Committee and Asia Pacific Golf Confederation board, to encourage camaraderie and competitive golf among senior amateurs.

Chandigarh’s Sandeep Sandhu underscored his rating as the top senior amateur player of the country once again by winning his 5th consecutive AVT title with a total of 149, 5-over par over 36 holes at Royal Calcutta Golf Course in Kolkata.

This further extends his lead and strengthens his top place standing on the AVT Champions Tour’s fifth season. Sandhu who didn’t play competitive golf at the international level during his younger years has used the AVT Champions tour to hone his skills and reach unprecedented levels of success , even at the international level.

Gaurav Ghosh, the recently crowned All India Senior Amateur Champion, playing at his home course carded rounds of 76-76 to finish runners-up at a total score of 8-over 152.

The top two players for the season are sponsored by AVT to participate in important international senior amateur events. The 2021-22 champions Ankur Prakash and Sandeep Sandhu played the Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championship in Kuala Lumpur last November.