Champion Om Prakash Chouhan (4th from left) receives the trophy from Mr. Amarjeet Singh, Special Secretary to Government, J&K Tourism Department (2nd from left), Ms. Sunaina Sharma Mehta, Joint Director, Tourism, Jammu (2nd from right) and Mr. Manav Gupta, Secretary, Jammu Tawi Golf Course (3rd from right)
The J&K Open played in Jammu last week on the PGTI was a statement by J&K Tourism to promote lucrative golf tourism to the state which is blessed with three top class and scenic courses – Jammu Tawi GC, Royal Springs – Srinagar, Pehelgam and potentially Gulmarg which can be revived.
The J&K Open saw around 100 Indian pro golfers from across India play 6 rounds with a few foreign pros from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. A pro-am was also held but it is not clear if the pro-am was for tourists or locals.
33-year-old Om Prakash Chouhan, from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, who lead the PGTI 2023 Rankings coming into the event thanks to since consistent play to add to his March win at the US$300,000 European Challenge Tour event in Bangalore, further stretched his lead in prize winnings by taking the title by three strokes in Jammu after shooting 11-under 277.
This was Chouhan’s second win of the season and his cheque was worth Rs. 7,50,000, taking his season’s earnings to a record Rs. 79 lacs giving him a commanding lead of over Rs. 23 lakh over his closest competitor, Aman Raj, on the PGTI’s money list.
The PGTI tour will now take a two week break before returning for its lucrative 7 week stretch worth Rs 10.5 crore in prize money starting with the Rs 1 crore Haryana Open 2023 at Panchkula Golf Club from Oct. 25-28.
Photo – PGTI