Fourteen Australian golfers are competing in the Jack Akbar Shield 2024 golf tournament, which begins today at the Fiji Golf Club. Susan Yee, secretary of the Fiji Senior Golfers Association, noted that the event has been held annually and continues to grow, expecting a field of 64 participants this year.
Yee mentioned that all past winners, except Jack Reddy, will be in attendance, raising anticipation to see if a former champion will secure victory again or if a new winner will emerge. The competition will feature a stroke format where the golfer with the lowest net score, whether male or female, will be crowned the winner of the Jack Akbar Shield.
Established in 2015 in honor of the golf enthusiast who passed away in Malaysia in 2014, the Jack Akbar Shield has become a significant annual fixture on the seniors’ golfing calendar, according to Yee. The late Mohammed Razak Akbar, fondly known as Jack Akbar, was born in Suva in 1929 and had a diverse background, including roles in engineering and extensive community service.
Akbar started as an apprentice with the Public Works Department before founding Akbar Engineering Ltd in 1974. He was also an avid tennis player before turning to golf in the late 1970s, using the sport as part of his health regimen to combat diabetes.
A dedicated community member, Akbar held numerous leadership positions, including president of the Suva Jaycees and the Rotary Club Suva. He was appointed an MBE by the Queen in 1987 in recognition of his contributions.
His late wife, Gulnoor Akbar, was a prominent presence at the Jack Akbar Shield ceremonies until her passing. Previous winners of the Shield include Thiphait Hussein in 2015 and 2017, Gardiner Whiteside in 2016, Ishwar Nand in 2019, Kevin McCarthy in 2022, and Shalendra Prasad, who will be defending his title this year.