Sports
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Gurgaon
does a hat trick This is the third time in a row that Classic Golf Resort, Gurgaon has won the championship. The team was led by Amit Luthra, reputed to be the best player never to have turned pro, and whose biggest contribution has been to groom Indian tour's latest golf star Ashok Kumar. United Services Club, Mumbai came third with 110 points, followed by Karnataka Golf Association with 107 points. 24 top Indian golfers represented these four regional zone winning clubs for the title of the 'McDowell's Signature Champion Golf Club Of India'. There were two individual award categories, which were given to Dhanalaksmi Rice of Karnataka Golf Association for getting closest to the pin; and to Anirban Nath of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club for the longest drive. The trophies were handed over by Vijay Rekhi, President, UB Group Spirits Division; and Alok Gupta, Executive Vice President, Marketing, UB Group Spirits Division. The 3rd McDowell's Signature Club Golf Championship finals were held at a picturesque golf course, Victoria Golf and Country Resorts, in the picturesque hill station of Kandy in Sri Lanka. The championship, for the first time ever, has made an international debut with the finals held outside India. "The finals have been a mixture of joy, suspense, and tension. All the finalists were equally competent and were neck-to-neck with one another. This apart, watching the best of Indian golfers teeing off at an open green valley on a drizzling Sunday morning has been quite a wonderful sight," said Vijay Rekhi. The McDowell's Signature Club Golf Championship is India's largest club golf challenge. Over 4500 avid golfers from 30 golf clubs, across 21 cities participated this year. The Championship teed off in India on October 16, 2004 at Poona Golf Club, Pune and Rambagh Golf Club, Jaipur. Avid golfer and sports commentator, Mr. Charu Sharma, was the championship's Tournament Director; Indiatimes.com & DAKS were the official partners for the event and DAKS has been providing specially customized golfing ware for all participants. "We want to make McDowell's Signature Club Golf Championship a significant golf event in the South Asian region and thereby attract the best golfers and leading clubs to participate. We have taken the first step in this direction by taking the finals to an international destination like Sri Lanka." added Vijay Rekhi. The tournament has been played in a unique three-tier format on India's best courses. Stage one comprised members-only intra club competitions using the Nett Stableford format. The top six golfers in the respective handicap category formed the 'club team'. In stage two, the club teams from each region ironed out who represents the region in the All-India Club finals. At stage three, the regional winners of the inter-club tournaments from North, South, East and West competed at the finals. "We hope this platform will encourage and throw up champions who will make their mark on the international golf circuit. And beyond golf, it is a wonderful way to forge relationships," said Alok Gupta. "On the fairway, it is not who you are but what you can do that counts. This emotion uniquely captures what the McDowell's Signature is about - a brand for the successful young who have created wealth by changing business paradigms, instead of just acquiring it," he added McDowell's Signature Club Golf Championship is the largest golf club challenge in the South Asian region. Starting out in India with 12 clubs in 6 cities and 1200 golfers in 2002, the tournament now attracts 30 clubs from 21 cities and over 4500 golfers. McDowell's Signature brings alive the "The New Sign of Success" positioning of the brand in three ways. The first is "Knowledge", exemplified in the McDowell's Signature Success Series. The second is "Entertainment" through the ongoing McDowell's Signature Theatre Fest. The third is "Sports" and a focus on golf, with the immensely renowned McDowell's Signature Celebrity Golf and McDowell's Signature Club Golf Championship. |
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