Mumbai: India Cements, the title sponsor and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, has jointly announced the India Cements Pro Championship 2023 which will be held at the Tamil Nadu Golf Federation (TNGF) Cosmo Golf Course from 16 and 19 August 2023. The event offers a prize purse of Rs 50 lakh. The Pro-Am event was held on 15 August.

The tournament marks the beginning of the action-packed second half of the 2023 TATA Steel PGTI season. The India Cements Pro Championship 2023 offers the highest-ever prize purse for a men’s professional event in Chennai.

India Cements vice chairman & managing director N Srinivasan said, “Golf remains as one of the most celebrated sports across the world. India Cements has significantly contributed to the development of golf course in Chennai and organising golf tournaments.  

As an avid golfer myself, I am very proud of the major role played by Tamil Nadu Golf Federation, formed in 1996 in transforming the golf course at Nandanam in Chennai, to modern standards. Over the years its membership has more than doubled  and  we see a large  number of  golf loving  expatriates and Indians playing  at the Golf Course.”

Further he said, “TNGF has spent lot of money in the last two decades and has transformed  it  into a lush green course equipped with modern facilities, better infrastructure, green keeping,  trained manpower along with a golf academy for training budding golfers. More recently, TNGF has established a new Club House.”

India Cements CMO and an avid golfer Parthasarathy Ramanujam said, “India Cements has a rich sporting tradition and as a title sponsor, we are proud of the long awaited Pro Championship returning to Chennai.

India Cements has 75 years of legacy and it is one of the largest producers of cement in South India. The Company’s name is synonymous with strength and durability as well as sports. The Company has made a rich contribution to the development of sports and sports persons including golfers and golf through TNGF.”

The event will witness participation by 126 golfers including 123 professionals and three amateurs. The leading Indian professionals in the field include Om Prakash Chouhan (TATA Steel PGTI Rankings leader), Aman Raj, Karan Pratap Singh, Sachin Baisoya and Gaurav Pratap Singh, to name a few.

This week the PGTI also welcomes on board Bisleri Vedica Himalayan Spring Water as Tour Partner. Born of a clear spring that gushes from its Himalayan labyrinth, Vedica is the finest life taken to another altitude. Vedica Himalayan Spring water is a single source of natural mountain water that is bottled at the source.  Vedica Himalayan Spring Water has a fine balance of naturally occurring calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulphates and bicarbonates. It is naturally alkaline, thus making it a natural antacid, acting as a calming antidote to our stressful urban lives.

Bisleri International Pvt Ltd head of marketing Tushar Malhotra commented, “Bisleri Vedica Himalayan Spring Water stands as the preferred option for the sophisticated, epicurean and health-conscious consumer.  Our collaboration with Professional Golf Tour of India is the perfect association to celebrate a life #FullOfAltitude.”

PGTI CEO Uttam Singh Mundy said, “We thank India Cements for partnering with us in launching the India Cements Pro Championship. With the support of India Cements, a great patron for sports in India, the growth story of Indian professional golf receives yet another major boost. I would personally like to thank Mr. N Srinivasan for sharing PGTI’s vision. It was Mr. N Srinivasan’s encouragement and support that helped PGTI make its long-awaited return to Chennai last season with the staging of its event at TNGF Cosmo Golf Course.”

He further stated, “We are delighted to partner with Bisleri Vedica Himalayan Spring Water as the Tour Partner. It is a perfect synergy as, like the game Bisleri Vedica also strives for excellence. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Here’s wishing the players all the best as an exciting second half of the season lies in prospect.”

Tamil Nadu Golf Federation (TNGF) honorary secretary R K Jhaver said, “We are delighted to host a PGTI tournament at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course for the second year in succession. We look forward to a highly-competitive week of golf as the challenging layout and conditions at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course will test the skills of India's leading professionals. We have worked towards providing the best playing conditions and are confident that the players will relish the experience.”

The prominent foreign names in the field include Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain and Badal Hossain, Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and Mithun Perera, Japan’s Makoto Iwasaki and Nepal’s Sukra Bahadur Rai, to name a few.

The local challenge will be led by Chennai-based professionals C Arul, Sandeep Syal and S Prasanth.

“I would like to thank India Cements and PGTI for organizing this amazing tournament and really look forward to being in contention. I’ve just had a look at the golf course, the greens are in great condition and I would like to thank TNGF Cosmo Golf Course for putting this together. I would also like to thank Bisleri Vedica Himalayan Spring Water for their kind support as the new Tour Partner of the PGTI and welcome them on board,” signed off Raj.

TNGF Cosmo Golf Course is the Venue Partner, Crowne Plaza Chennai is the hospitality partner and Ballantine’s is the associate partner for the event.

Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park general manager Anand Nair said, “We are honoured to once again partner with PGTI for the India Cements Pro Championship 2023. Our repeated collaborations are a testament to our shared vision and commitment. We wholeheartedly champion the burgeoning golf tournaments in India and eagerly anticipate our participation in this prestigious tournament.”

The event is also supported by PGTI’s tour partners TATA Steel, Rolex, Amrutanjan Fruitnik Electro+, Golf Plus Monthly and Athletic Drive.