The three-day first Sprite Golf Tournament commenced here at Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course with vibrant events for the ladies, veterans (above 70 years of age), seniors (above 55 years of age), amateurs, ball boys and caddies.
Of special significance is the competitive event for ball boys and the caddies who earn their living by serving the golfers but now thanks to Sprite and Javed A. Khan, they have been afforded an opportunity to show their golfing skills. Surprisingly, out of 59 caddy competitors, at-least 10 were simply remarkable, managing to make a mark as golfers of talent and this will open the door for them to enter the arena of professional golfers.
The top performer among the caddy participants was Shehzad Bablu. Still in his teens, with no formal coaching, Bablu succeeded in exhibiting massive drives on all par fours and fives and in the nine holes to birdie par4, 10th, par5 and 16th and the following par5 and 17th. His overall score of gross 36, one under par 36 for the back nine looked highly impressive, particularly when viewed in the light of the fact that this was his first competitive outing.
Other caddies who appeared amongst the top 10 performers were Ilyas Judge (38 gross), Tikka Ijaz (38), John Binyamin (39), Samsung (39), Kamran (39), Ahmed Bubby (40), Haroon Saleem (40), John Nathenial (40) and Tariq Taj (41). Ladies, veterans and seniors also contested on Saturday but at the time of filing this report, some results were awaited.