since 2014, has not been lost on the
Golfing world. He also had an enviable
record in his Ryder Cup debut last year.
Names are just that, we condition
ourselves to watch and follow only the big
guns. When Salvadore Dali said “ Have
no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach
it”, he never contended with the likes of
these golfers. I have been swinging a club
for 43 years and I must confess that I was
overawed by their performance at Erin
Hills. I have been telling anyone who will
listen that “the skill” is back to the game.
My station on the hillock left of drive landing zone on 14th
medal and a name to watch out for. I saw
him make a 332 yard drive, into the wind
on the 14th,a feat that none of the top
pros could match! Sahith Theegala from
California, another amateur of Indian
(read Andhra) origin is also a name to look
out for.
That Brooks Koepka is 27, has finished
inside the top 25 in the previous seven
majors and also had four top-10 finishes
THE USGA’S FINE EFFORT
The American’s, in all walks of life, have
a different way of doing things and I
am privileged to see the USGA at work.
With more than 5000 volunteers working
at the U.S Open, it takes huge skill and
effort to make it all come together. Take
a bow Stuart Francis, Mark Newell, John
Bodenhamer, Jeff Hall, Thomas Pagel
and a score of other officials who work
tirelessly to deliver a picture-perfect event.
Make it to Shinnecock Hills for 2018, you
will not regret it!
Taiwan Amateur Championship 2017
The Sunrise Golf & Country Club in Taipei, played host to
the Taiwan Amateur Championship 2017. Skilled amateur golfers,
both men and women, from many parts of the World gathered
here to compete in this prestigious event. About 8 Countries
had sent a two-member team, including
Australia, Japan and Hongkong. The
Indian men’s team was represented by
Aalaap and Pukhraj, while our skillful
juniors Diksha and Sifat made up the
ladies’ team. Gurbani took part in this
event as an individual entry. The course
which boasts of hosting an LPGA event in
2012, is hilly, steep, undulating and well
wooded. The weather plays a major role in
increasing or decreasing the diffi culty of
this course. The gusty winds that blow here can make the course
play very long, like it happened on the fi rst day of the tournament.
The format was individual stroke play over four rounds and was
held from June 20 - 23. The combined scores of the team members
for the fi rst two days accounted for the team’s standing. At the end
of the second round, the Indian ladies team jumped up a spot to
By Suguna Saravanan
fi nish in a well deserved second position. The men’s team fi nished
in seventh place. Also a cut was applied after the two rounds which
saw as many as thirty players missing the cut, Pukhraj being one
of them. A quad on the very fi rst hole of the second round made
it diffi cult for him to stabilize. However, his
ball striking and putting skills are awesome
and it is just a matter of time before he marks
it big. Two more days of individual rounds
saw Gurbani hold on to a respectable position
and garnered the runner-up trophy. Diksha
and Sifat fi nished 10th and 12th respectively.
Aalaap fi nished in the 16th position. Overall,
the players had a great experience playing
every round under very different conditions
on all days. Though the Thailand players
took away most of the trophies including the top prizes for the team,
both in men and women; ladies individual fi rst prize, which was won
by Atthaya Thitikul, men’s individual second and third prize, won by
Sadom Kaewkanjana and Kosuke Hamamoto respectively ... it is still
a matter of pride that the Indians did walk away with a few crystals
themselves.
GolfPlus
JULY
2017
17