Golf Update: Where is the friendship band? 8 Indians charge in at the Asia Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan.
Talk about “Japan-India Global Partnership in the 21st century” or Japan-India Joint Declaration”, the high level dialogue, the economic cooperation or the ant-terrorism Cooperation can be put aside for a while since Japan will now see players
like Gaganjeet Bhullar, Anirban Lahiri, and S.S.P. Chowrasia at the Rokko Kokusai Golf Club.
The Asian Pacific Panasonic Open will be held today in Japan and will include golfers from the Indian side as well. The Indian Challenge will be led by Gaganjeet Bhullar on the 23rd of September of 8 in number. He stands as the only Indian who
has been able to win the Asian Tour in the current year. Bhullar will be leading 8 other players at the Panasonic Open who is aiming to catch the title of Asian Tour after he tees-off.
Apart from Bhullar, another Indian who is charging in the Japan’s green fields is Anirban Lahiri and is still waiting for his single Asian Tour title. At the Honda Singapore Classic Lahiri’s name was included in the list of those who managed the best card
of the day with a 66 at 6 under. He opened his game by playing a birdie which was followed by three more strokes travelling to 4 under.
S.S.P. Chowrasia is also included in the eight man squad at the Rokko Kokusai Golf Club. His aim is to complete his 9-event Quota of this season and has plans of playing more Asian Tour events. The Indian Trio of Bhullar, Chowrasia and Lahiri at the $ 400,000
Honda Singapore Classic, attained a tie at 8th place after a contrasting card in the last round. Now a dollar 1.7 Million jaunt is also in their eyes, which is an “Asian-Japan Golf Tour” sanctioned event.
C. Muniyapa, who is the winner of the Hero Honda Indian Open, and Shiv Kapoor are also the part of Indian Challenge.
Getting out of the Indian side for a while and heading out towards the Korean side. Unho Park is regarded as one of the best players and can be wagered on winning the current tournament. Park will be gunning for his maiden win at the Asian Tour. Park finished
at the 7th place at a different place but says that he feels at home on the Japanese land and will play his best game.
Coming to Japan, the all favourite Ryo Ishikawa is currently under the reign of the Korean, Noh Seung-yul. He is the leader of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit with an almighty period of influence over Seung-yul. Other players who are under Noh’s influence
stand to be Daisuke Maruyama and Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand. Thaworn is the winner of the Yeangder Tournament Player Championship which was held last week. Noh won the Malaysian Open this season and claimed fourth place at the Omega European Masters.
Japan’s Money list is currently being led by another Korean, Kyung-Tae Kim. The twenty four year old has latest played his best at the event endorsed by the European Tour in 2010.
The Asia Pacific event has a lot in its bag to make the players play for it. It has the prize money of $ 350,000 for the one who tops the leader board and will do well in shaping up the race for those who are striving for the number one spot for Asian Tour.
The Indians are a pretty determined side. At the Handa Classic Golf, Bhullar aimed to scramble up the leader board even when he didn’t hit many balls in the regulation. Having said that, it now seems like a strong Indian squad is about to appear at the Panasonic
Open in Japan. Many critics are wondering how Japan will cater its close friend on the leader boards now. This is, of course, depending on the quality of the game they play, which can only be witnessed at the event itself. Till then, let’s just keep on distributing
the Indo-Japan friendship bands shall we.
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