TheSportsCampus

After a successful northern run of the Toyota-IGU Junior National Tour at the Golden Greens Golf Resort, Gurgoan; the stars of Indian junior golf tee off at the Southern edition of the tour, to be held over four days at the par-72 Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) from May 28 - Jun 1, 2012.

Starting this year, the Toyota - IGU Junior Tour will be played in two age categories - Category A, under - 18 years and Category B, under - 14 years; and will see a playing field of approximately 100 of the best junior male golfers in the country vying for the top national rankings. Post a great start in the north, these young lads promise a great display of sport with some scintillating competition as they face a tough test in the southern edition of the tour. Toyota - IGU Southern India Juniors is the 2^nd of the seven tournaments on the Toyota IGU tour, inclusive of 4 zonal tournaments and the season ending National Championship.

While last year's champion and local boy S Chikkarangappa has graduated beyond junior ranks, the competition in Category A will be led by DLF Golf and Country Club's seventeen year old sensation Manu Gandas who aims for a hat-trick, post his recent wins at the at Toyota IGU Haryana Juniors and Rajasthan Junior Open Golf Championship.

"It's a great high to have won two junior events I have played in this season, and I am excited that my game is really picking up! I really do hope I can continue my winning spree at the Toyota IGU Southern India Juniors", said the Haryana based golfer. Highly rated Honey Baisoya (Delhi Golf Club), who lost the Toyota IGU Haryana Juniors title to Manu earlier this year by a single stroke, will be looking to step up his game as he continues to aim for his first title of the 2012 season. Last year's runner up Trishul Chinnappa and Toyota IGU Player of the Year, Sayed Saqib Ahmed, are also transitioning into the senior circuit, leaving the field open for Shubankar Sharma - winner of the Toyota Etios Eastern India Junior golf tournament in 2011, and Abhishek Kuhar who has shown great potential this year post his top ten finish at the recently concluded Rajasthan Rambagh Junior Golf Championship 2012.

In Category B (under 14) Prakhar Asawa from Rambagh Golf club, Jaipur whose match-winning performance at Rajasthan Junior Open Golf Championship two weeks ago is still a fresh memory in the community, will have to battle it out with Piyush Sangwan (DLF Golf and country Club), Viraj Madappa (The Tollygunge Golf Club) and Feroz Garewal (Chandigarh Golf Club) who will all be playing to the best of their abilities to emerge champions of their age group.

"We feel a sense of satisfaction in promoting the series of national junior tournaments with the Indian Golf Union as these budding golfers are future of our country and are role models of the sport and sportsmanship during these tournaments. The future of golf in India is bright and we feel immensely proud to be a part of it", said, Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Sales & Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Pvt. Ltd. as Toyota continues their commitment to the sport as Title sponsors of the Junior Tour for the 3^rd consecutive year.

The tour is managed and marketed by the Rishi Narain Golf Management, who had earlier brought the spectacular professional team golf event, Louis Philippe Cup to the KGA in March 2012. Speaking about the Toyota IGU Junior Tour, former Asian Games gold medallist and Managing Director of RNGM, Rishi Narain explained, "The Toyota IGU Junior Tour is always the most competitive as it's on par with all international pro junior tournaments, with the winner being decided over four rounds of 18 holes each. Also, the points earned on the IGU tour determine national rankings, which secure spots for these young golfers in international events such as the Duke of York Tournament and the Malaysia Junior Open, so we are guaranteed some extremely stiff competition and exciting play."

With practice rounds that commence on Monday, as a preview to the tournament, the junior golfers shall participate in a Golf Clinic to be conducted by the Arjuna Awardee Harmeet Kahlon of Chandigarh at the Karnataka Golf Association. In the clinic, which has been a regular feature at the junior tournaments for two years now, the young enthusiastic golfers will get valuable insights on a holistic approach to the sport as well as advice stressing on the need for physical endurance and mental stability while playing - a must as they aspire for the top positions in world golf.