Pondok Indah Junior Golf Championship returns
Pondok Indah Golf Course
The Junior Golf Tour of Asia (JGTA) is partnering the Pondok Indah Organizing Committee on its longstanding milestone event, the 2018 Pondok Indah International Junior Golf Championship. The tournament will take place December 18-20, 2018 at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia. The tournament will be a three-day, 54-hole stroke-play event, featuring Asia’s premier talent in junior golf.
The Pondok Indah International Junior Golf Championship is founded on the principle of serving young people and generating friendship among nations as well as promoting the popularity of the sport of golf in the junior sphere. For three years running, the committee has hosted the Indonesia Open on the Asian Tour. Whilst the course was built for an acclaimed international professional golf tournament, it has become prominent for international amateur and junior golfers as well—most recently playing host to competition in the 2018 Asian Games.
RELATED: Junior Golf October 2018
Team USA retains Junior Ryder Cup
Team USA, the winners
24 of the best American and European junior golfers faced off at Golf Disneyland, Paris for the Junior Ryder Cup on September 24-25, ahead of the men’s showdown at Le Golf National. Team USA, captained by Allen Wornowski, defeated Europe (captained by Maïtena Alsuguren) 12½–11½ to retain bragging rights. The Americans have now won the last six editions of the junior event, which was first held in 1997. 17-year old Indo-American Akshay Bhatia was part of the American outfit.
Pranavi Third at Singha Open
Pranavi Urs of Mysuru
Representing the Indian women’s team in the 84th Singha Thailand Amateur Open, 15-year-old Pranavi Urs stood third with a four-day aggregate score of 282 (72-70-72-68), just two shots behind winner Tarapat Boonyaranknanon of Thailand. The tournament was held at the famous Panya Indra Golf Club from October 2-5. Pranavi, who hails from Mysuru, recently secured a US$100,000 scholarship—covering tuition, living expenses and tournament fees—to attend the prestigious Mitchell Spearman Academy at Albany in The Bahamas.
Bhatia wins Silver at Youth Olympics
L-R: Akshay Bhatia (USA, Silver), Karl Vilips (Australia, Gold), Jerry Ji (Netherlands, Bronze)
In what was the highest podium spot for a U.S. golfer since the sport was reintroduced to the Olympic program in 2014, 17-year-old Akshay Bhatia earned Team USA’s third silver medal of the Summer Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. He was two strokes shy of a gold medal finish. The men’s individual event took place over three rounds (October 9-11) at Hurlingham Club.
“I’m pretty cold actually,” Bhatia laughed, when asked how he was feeling after his podium finish. “But it was really cool. To win a medal is really prestigious for me and my family, so I’m really grateful to come in second.”