Arjun Atwal is top seed
for SRF Matchplay
Arjun Atwal's recent run of form in international events, which included a historic victory at the Singapore Masters last
month, won him the top seeding ahead of the current Order of Merit leader
Mukesh Kumar for the Rs One million SRF All-India Matchplay championship, which
begins at the Delhi Golf Club from April 1, 2002.
The 29-year-old from Kolkata became the first Indian and only the fourth
Asian player to win a European Tour event when he produced a stunning
display at the Laguna National course in Singapore to win the Caltex
Singapore Masters title by five strokes.
Mukesh has had a brilliant season on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour so far,
winning as many as six titles in the 22 events he has played. The Mhow-based
player also set an earnings record on the Tour, accumulating as much as Rs
1.7 million prior to the HT ProGolf Chandigarh Open.
It was a difficult decision for the organisers, especially since Atwal and
Mukesh hardly played together on Indian soil this season. What finally
tilted the balance in Atwal's favour was the fact that in Hero Honda
Masters, played this year from February 14-17, he finished tied for the
fifth place while Mukesh unfortunately missed the cut.
Mukesh was followed by Feroz Ali, who is currently second on the Indian Tour
Money List. The Kolkata-based Feroz is enjoying a rich vein of form, having
won four events in the last four months.
Vijay Kumar of Lucknow, despite being seventh in the Order of Merit, was
seeded fourth because of his superb performance during the Royal Challenge
Indian Open, where he won the title. Arjun Singh, Uttam Singh Mundy, Shiv
Prakash and Gaurav Ghei were seeded fifth to eighth on the basis of their
Order of Merit positions, where they are currently ranked third to sixth.
Sixteen players were seeded for the SRF All-India Matchplay championship and
the draw will made prior to the start of the main event on April 2, 2002. A
pro-am is scheduled to be held on Monday, April 1, 2002. The event will
feature 64 players, based on their Order of Merit positions and finishes in
the Qualifying School. The prize-money has been raised to Rs One million with
the winner's cheque amounting to Rs 175,000.
The Delhi-based Tiger Sports
Marketing is managing the tournament.
SEEDINGS FOR SRF MATCHPLAY: 1. Arjun Atwal; 2. Mukesh Kumar; 3. Feroz Ali;
4. Vijay Kumar; 5. Arjun Singh; 6. Uttam Singh Mundy; 7. Shiv Prakash; 8.
Gaurav Ghei; 9. Sanjay Kumar; 10. Rohtas Singh; 11. Shiv Shankar Prasad
Chowrasia; 12. Rafiq Ali; 13. Digvijay Singh; 14. Yusuf Ali; 15. Zai Kipgen;
16. Rahil Gangjee
