Nurturing Next Wave of Talent At Leela Golf Tournament

By Deepak Arora

BENGALURU, Mar 17: Following the resounding success of the first two editions, The Leela Palace Bengaluru hosted their third shotgun tournament at the Karnataka Golf Association recently. The third edition is in collaboration with the Junior Golf Development Program and Karnataka Golf Association.

What truly made this tournament stand out was its exceptional mix of rising stars and young talent, aged between 8 and 18, showcasing the full spectrum of golfing talent. The tournament has always been centered around children, with the main aim of inspiring the younger generation and promoting the development of their careers.

This year, the tournament saw over 40 children in participation aged between with 70% playing for the second time. They were supported by 80 adults, comprising corporate professionals and key personalities from various industries, who joined in supporting the cause.

The emerging golf talent in India is showing exceptional promise, with numerous accolades highlighting their potential. Recent achievements of players who participated include victories in prestigious events such as the U.S. Kids Indian Championship, U.S. Kids World Juniors and U.S. Kids Singapore sand Malaysian Championships, alongside top finishes in the at IGU South Zone (India) and Epic WRX All India Tour.

With multiple first-place finishes at events like the Karnataka Golf Association, these golfers are demonstrating remarkable skill and determination, positioning themselves as future stars of the sport.

The shotgun tee-off was by none other than the President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport – Kapil Dev. Known as an avid golfer, he has participated in various golf tournaments.

On the occasion, Kapil Dev said, “The beauty of our country is that we can give children the space to play and dream. You never know which child will shine and make us proud. I'm glad to see Leela stepping in to promote sports and provide young talent with the platform they deserve. Give them the opportunity, and the rest will come through their talent and hard work.”

Madhav Sehgal, Area Vice President – South India, The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts said, “This year, the tournament reached new heights with young golfers who have earned global recognition. The Leela remains committed to inspiring budding talent, providing a platform where camaraderie and competition blend harmoniously to shape the champions of tomorrow.”

Beyond the honour of triumph, the winners received stay and dining vouchers across The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts.

Winners of The Leela Annual Golf Tournament:

Kapil Dev Longest drive – Rachana Bahadur

Straightest drive- Ganesh Basavaraj, Managing Director, Machaan Resorts

Closest to the pin par 3 – Ajay Kanwal

Handicap 0-18

Winner – Ajay Vij, Senior Country Managing Director, Accenture

Runner up – John Abraham

Handicap 19-24

Winner – Rachna Bahadur, SVP, Country Head – India, Synchrony

Runner up – Dr. Sanjay Rao

Kids winner and runners up

14-18 years –

Winner – Ayaan Jung

Runner up – Manoj M

12-14 years –

Winner – Aida Thimmaiah

Runner up – Prem Muniyappa

9 – 11 years –

Winner – Suryaansh Reddy

Runner up- Dharma

8 and below –

Winner – Shanshank Sudhakar

Runner up – Pramati Veera

The Leela Palace Bengaluru is a decadent palace, nestled amidst nine acres of lush gardens featuring six floors of elegant and spacious 357 rooms and suites. Built in an art-deco form drawing inspiration from the architectural style of the Royal Palace of Mysore and the palaces of the Vijayanagar Empire, its copper domes, arches and ornate ceilings reflect the grandeur of palaces of a bygone era. The hotel is near business districts, the cosmopolitan 100 ft road, Indiranagar and offers easy access to the city centre on MG Road.