Photo Caption: Left to Rigjt - Kedar Bondte (PCG), Satpal Singh (USC), Kapil Grover (Chairman, Grover Zampa), Ashish Chemburkar (BPGC) & Pradip Peter (WSC).US Club keen to win 4th successive title in Grover Vineyards Inter-Club Golf
Pune, February 16: Defending champions United Services Club is raring to extend their hold on the title, by winning it for the fourth successive year. Their captain Satpal Singh strongly believes that they can emerge champions in the 22nd edition of the Grover Zampa Vineyard Inter-Club Golf Championship, which tees off at the Poona Golf Course on Saturday. Host Poona Golf Club and two clubs from Mumbai, Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) and Willingdon Sports Club will put up a strong challenge to halt the US Club’s run.
“We have created history by becoming champions in the last three years and everybody is looking to stop us, but we will continue our march to success. This year the competition is going to be fierce as everyone plays to win. We are a tried and tested team, which is a blend of youngsters, middle aged and elderly golfers. We are determined to win for the fourth year in succession,” a confident Satpal Singh stated.
Meanwhile, Poona Club, who have lost only once in their own backyard, way back in 2004 to BPGC, are also keen to regain the title they last won in 2012 at home. “We have the home advantage which would suit our players. The boys have been playing for the last six months and we are well aware of the course and that could give us an upper hand,”said the Poona Golf Club chief selector Kedar Bondte, on the eve of the championship.
Poona Club’s fight to regain the title would be spearheaded by GM Partwardhan, the senior most in the team. He would be ably supported by Anant Pandit, youngster Jay Shirke, Shishir Khosla along with the baby of the team Pratik Nirmale to name a few.
This year a ‘Super Seniors’ category has also been added with each club fielding an additional 6 players in the over 60 age category who will play off a maximum 18 handicap on day 1. “We have included the seniors in the teams, and they can garner one point,” said Kapil Grover, the promoter and chairman of Grover Zampa.
This 22nd Grover Vineyards Inter-Club Golf Championship will bring together players from the four leading golf clubs in Western India: United Services Club (USC), Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC), Willingdon Sports Club (WSC) and Poona Club Golf, making it the biggest amateur -golf event in Maharashtra.
This is the biggest amateur golf event in the state and the only one of its kind in the country and Grover Zampa Vineyards has been associated with this Championship since the last 20 years. The event has gained in stature, organization and format ever since, making it the most sought after tournament for both players and golf enthusiasts. Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) is the only team which hs beaten Poona Club in their own back yard and will look to repeat the same. The finest players below 15 handicap will compete with each other in a format that is fine-tuned to an extent that only the best golfers can win. The Grover Vineyards Inter-Club Golf is also the only event which gives talented youngsters a platform to perform against the more seasoned players in a fiercely competitive, yet friendly atmosphere.