Indian team at the 14th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship golf – from left Kartik Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Vedant Sirohi, Shubham Jaglan, Krishnav Nikhil Chopra, Raghav Chugh
Melbourne, Oct 24: Shubham Jaglan, who came close to logging a Top-10 on his debut in 2021, returns to the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) for another shot at what he calls as the ‘finest’ amateur opportunity available to the players of the region.
The AAC, now celebrating its 14th edition, gives the winner one of the best prizes in the sport for the amateurs with a place in both the Masters at the Augusta National and the Open for the following year.
For the third time in as many years India has seven players of whom three are making their second start at the tournament from Thursday. The closest any Indian has come to winning the prestigious event is Rayhan Thomas, who was runner-up in 2018 in Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. Thomas, originally slated to play here, pulled out due to an injury.
The Indian squad sent by the Indian Golf Union includes Kartik Singh, a 13-year-old, who becomes the youngest player in the event, as he makes his debut at the AAC. Interestingly Kartik at 203rd in the world is now the highest ranked Indian in Melbourne following the withdrawal of Thomas.
The other six players are Jaglan, T-11 in his previous AAC start in 2021, Krishnav Nikhil Chopra (T-44 in 2022) and Shaurya Bhattacharya (T-47 in 2022). Kartik Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Raghav Chugh and Vedant Sirohi are making their debut at the AAC.
Four of the seven are currently playing college golf in the United States and they are Jaglan (University of South Florida), Chugh (Rice University), Sirohi (Webber International) and Chopra (Long Beach State).
Kartik’s ranking is a result of his regular success in domestic events. He also played the US Junior Amateurs this year. Coached by DLF pro Deepinder Khullar, the youngster is however not short on international experience, and has won events on US Kids Golf Series in different countries, including India, besides titles in Malaysia, Thailand, and this year he was runner-up at an event in Vietnam.
The shy 13-year-old’s father, Dhananjay Singh, a former Naval officer, hopes the exposure to courses like the Royal Melbourne Golf Club will help him progress faster in the sport. “This is just the beginning for Kartik,” said his father, as the son teed off for a practice round with other Indian golfers at the windy Royal Melbourne.
Jaglan, who came into the squad following the withdrawal of Thomas, has been focussed on college golf in US, but is thrilled to be back at the AAC. “Last year I missed the event in Thailand because I had to play college events. This year, I could make it. The prizes on offer here are just amazing, so I am very excited about having a shot at this event.”
Jaglan, now in his third year at college at South Florida, plans to play the PGA Tour University Tour, from where the Order of Merit winner gets a card directly into the PGA Tour and the Top-10 get a chance to Korn Ferry Tour.
Jaglan also recalled the first time he heard about this course. “I remember meeting the legendary Peter Thomson, five times Open winner, when I was barely 10. I was taken to meet him by mentor Amit Luthra Sir when he (Peter Thomson) came to India almost 10 years ago. That was when I got to know about the Royal Melbourne course and now, I know it is one of the most famous courses in the world.”
Thomson, who re-designed the Delhi Golf Club, last visited India in 2014, and died in 2018.
Chopra, son of former India cricketer, Nikhil Chopra, now a commentator, has matured as a golfer, as have Yuvraj Singh, son of a former hockey player, and Shaurya Bhattacharya, with the exposure they have got by being sent to various international events by the Indian Golf Union. Vedant Sirohi has also been playing college golf in US.
