SNPL Masters 2013 features top Indian professional golfers like Asian Tour regular Anirban Lahiri, Chiragh Kumar, Rashid Khan, Shamim Khan, Mandeo Singh Pathania, Gurbaaz Mann, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Amardip Singh Malik, and former Indian Open winners Vijay Kumar and Ali Sher. Likewise, Anura Rohana and Mithun Perera from Sri Lanka are also among the contenders.[break]
"Challenging such high-profile players, some of whom are regular Asian Tour players, is always a tough task," said Nepal No 1 Shrestha, who has been playing in the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Tour since last year.
"However, I hope to put up a good challenge and produce the best possible result as I´m playing on home course," said Shrestha, who had finished third in the last edition. "If I can improve my putting, I have a chance," he added.
Shrestha, who is known for his attacking game, will lead the local challenge along with No 2 Rabi Khadka and No 3 Sanjay Lama. Likewise, No 4 Thapa Magar will be looking to repeat his 2007 feat when he had won the SNPL Masters title.
Meanwhile, presence of previous winners like Abhijit Singh Chadha (2012), Gaurav Ghei (1995), Mukesh Kumar (2000), Shamim Khan (2008), Anura Rohana (2009), Ashbir Saini (2010) and Rashid Khan (2011) is almost sure to make the competition more fierce.
The biggest golf tournament of Nepal with a total cash prize of Rs 4.8 million features 126 golfers including 10 amateurs.
Amongst the 10 amateurs, six are from the Surya Nepal NGA Youth Program, and this would be a good opportunity for them to hone their skills and prepare themselves for the next Asian Games.
This is the 20th edition of SNPL Masters and is a co-sanctioned event of PGTI and NPGA since last year.
Past winners
1993 Amandeep Johl
1994 Indrajeet Balotia
1995 Gaurav Ghei
1996 Firoz Ali
1997 Uttam Singh Mundy
1998 Vijay Kumar
1999 Rohtas Singh
2000 Mukesh Kumar
2001 Firoz Ali
2002 Uttam Singh Mundy
2003 Digvijay Singh
2004 Shiv Kapoor
2005 Gurbaz Mann
2006 -(No Event)
2007 Deepak Thapa Magar
2008 Shamim Khan
2009 Anura Rohana
2010 Ashbir Saini
2011 Rashid Khan
2012 Abhijit Singh Chadha
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