Sharmila, Smriti lead Indian challenge in Pro Am of Champions

A total of 20 top women professional golfers from India and Asia will be seen in action in the 18th edition of the Business Today Pro Am of Champions to be played at the picturesque Classic Golf Resort in Manesar on March 9 and 10.

Spearheading the Indian challenge will be Bangalore's Sharmila Nicollet, the only Indian to have retained her LET card for the second consecutive year, along with veteran Smriti Mehra.

Other Indian professionals to watch out for would be Neha Tripathi, Vani Kapoor, Ankita Tiwana and Meghna Bal.

The international brigade will be led by top Asian women professionals Tiranan Yoopan from Thailand and Ainil Abu Bakar Johani from Malaysia.

Other notables on the course will be Penappa Pulsawath from Thailand and Tang Ni Nhung from Vietnam.

However, only the professional women golfers will be eligible for the Rs 1.1 million prize money.

The tournament, which will also some of India's best corporate golfers, is aimed at developing and growing women's golf in India.

The event is sanctioned by the Women's Golf Association of India and will see real estate and hospitality major, BRYS Group, come on board as the presenting sponsor for the first time.

Three individual corporate winners from the Mumbai and Bangalore legs of the tournament will also be part of the grand finale here.

The winning teams and individual winners in three different categories from the regional and final legs of the tournament will get a chance to play at the international leg at Mauritius in June.

Speaking on the occasion, Smriti said, "Such events are great assets to women's golf. We need many more events like these in India as it helps in building a relationship with other golfers and corporates."