The 19th Inter-School Golf Championship commenced on November 14 at Tollygunge Club, welcoming over 100 budding golfers from various corners of India, with My Kolkata as digital partner. This event, renowned as the largest and oldest junior inter-school golf tournament in the country, stands as a beacon of pride for India’s emerging golf talents. Over the years, the championship has been the breeding ground for future golf luminaries, boasting alumni such as Viraj Madappa, Siddhi Kapoor, Udayjit Bhalotia, Tutul Ali and Sunit Chowrasia among its ranks.
This year’s championship witnessed participants competing in six distinct divisions tailored to different age groups and genders, ranging from under-nine to over 13 years. The tournament’s structure includes a diverse mix of playing styles, featuring a two-ball scramble for the first round and a four-ball for the second, all played under the ball stroke play format.
Gurmehr Bindra and Rudraksha Banerjee
In the over-13 overall category, the team from La Martiniere for Boys, Kolkata, comprising Gurmehr Bindra and Rudraksha Banerjee, took an impressive lead, carding a stellar five-under par 65 after the first round. Following closely behind, another team from the same school, Prashant Agarwal and Armaan Tekriwal, secured the second position with a commendable four-under par 66.
Mehak Lohan and Priya Kumari
In the over-13 girls’ division, the team from Army Public School, represented by Mehak Lohan and Priya Kumari, demonstrated their prowess, leading with a score of three-under par 67. Meanwhile, the team from Modern High Schools for Girls, Dhanvi Patel and Anjika Fatehpuria, secured the second position after round one with a score of 83.
Rayan Sao from La Martiniere for Boys showcased exceptional skill in the over-13 overall category, taking the lead with a one-over par 71. Following closely behind, three teams from the same school managed a score of four-over par 74, with Krishiv Rungta and Aryaveer Agrawal, Armaan Bhoopal and Adityajit Gupta, and Hrian Khem and Samarth Agarwal securing the second position.
In the under-13 girls’ division, Julinka Roychowdhury from Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir seized the lead with an 11-over par 81, while DPS Megacity’s Nahida Parvin secured the second position with a score of 93.
Amaira Gulati
Among the under-nine category, the team from La Martiniere for Boys, represented by Priansh Dhandhania and Parikshet More, emerged as the frontrunners with an impressive two-under par 32. In the under-nine girls’ category, Amaira Gulati from G D Goenka Public School, Siliguri, took the lead with a score of 38, closely followed by Ahana Khaitan and Aaira Khaitan from RPG International School with a score of 45.
The championship’s fervour intensifies as participants gear up for the second round scheduled for November 15, promising more gripping golfing action on the greens.
The 19th Inter-School Golf Championship 2023 is in partnership with Muskaan, a pan-India initiative of Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) and the Education For All Trust aimed at promoting skill development among children through webinars, courses and workshops. Muskaan seeks to popularise culture and heritage literature among Indian youth by weaving it into the formal and informal education system. This is done by engaging students in diverse activities like cultural programmes, storytelling, theatre, dance, music and art. Muskaan also supports needy and marginalised students by providing them with tuition or coaching classes, stationery and study materials, distributing nutritious food and providing basic hygiene amenities. The outdoor media partner for the tournament is Balaji Ads and the tournament is organised and managed by Protouch Sports.