Shakeel Pillay from the Denarau Golf Club achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the overall gross title in the amateur division of the 54th RC Manubhai Ba Open with an impressive score of 142. This victory marks Pillay’s first win at the Ba Open, serving as a redemption after he narrowly missed the title last year.
The 19-year-old expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It feels good to win this year. I feel it was redemption after last year’s performance.” Pillay’s ambition is to compete in international tournaments, with plans to participate in events in Australia starting January.
In addition to Pillay’s triumph, other noteworthy participants included Jalen Raman, who finished as the runner-up with a score of 144, and Christopher Daniel, who claimed the overall nett title with a score of 130, just edging out Ganesh Chand, who scored 131.
In the A grade 36-hole gross category, Asish Chand took the victory with a score of 145, followed by Isei Waqa with 150 and Indra Warjan at 152. Jainendra Prasad emerged as the top player in the nett division with a score of 139, just ahead of Ashwin Sharma and Rohit Chandra, who both scored 142.
For the B grade, Sikipio won the 36-hole gross title with a score of 158, with Sailesh Kumar and Abdul Khan closely trailing. In the nett category, Samisoni Mara and Naleen Sharma both finished with 133, while Damon Chen followed at 134.
In the C grade, Sunil Sharma led the gross category, scoring 178, with Sanjay Singh and Mohit Prasad finishing closely behind. Kamal Sharma topped the nett division with 137, followed by Sanjay Sharma and Yash Kumar.
The women’s division showcased strong performances as well, dominated by Raina Kumar with a gross score of 150. Seni Loga captured the overall nett title, scoring 130.
The professional division added more excitement to the tournament, with Zoheer Ahmad claiming the title over runner-up Roneel Prakash.
This event showcased the growing strength and depth of talent within Fiji’s golfing community, underscoring the bright future for golf in the region. The enthusiasm of young talents like Shakeel Pillay is promising and highlights the potential for Fiji to make a mark on the international golf stage in the coming years.
Overall, the Ba Open not only celebrated individual achievements but also reinforced the spirit of competition and camaraderie among golfers in Fiji.
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