Khalin Joshi and David D'Souza kick off Toyota Karnataka Golf Festival in style

South India's largest amateur golf tournament - the Toyota Karnataka Golf Festival, kicked off to a great start yesterday with over 100 amateur golfers teeing off at one of the best golf courses in Asia, the Karnataka Golf Association.

David D'Souza, who clinched the top honours in the 2009 Golf Festival and went on to represent India in the World Golfers Championship in Spain, displayed great golfing prowess yet again to emerge the best individual golfer of the day with a score of 32 points.



Akshay Kilachand scored 34 points to win the top honours in the 0-5 handicap category for the day. With a handicap of 8, Krishna Prasad scored 37 points to win the 5 - 10 handicap category on day 1. A windy day at KGA also saw some stellar performances from Sandeep Kulhalli (36 points) who won the 11-15 handicap category and Vivek Rao (42 points) who emerged winner in the 16-20 handicap category. Sharad Junghare scored 39 points to emerge on top of the leader board on day 1 in the 21-24 handicap category.


Avinash Deoskar pocketed the Golf Commune Long Drive Challenge with a masterful stroke that landed the ball 310 yards away in Hole 9.



On the second day, Hitesh Joshi produced a brilliant performance and scored 33 points clocking the best individual score of the day.



Fresh from his successful outing at the Nomura Cup, Bangalore Boy Khalin Joshi justified his billing as one of India's best amateur golfers by topping his handicap category with a score of 38 points. Wing Commander S. R. Nair played well in the windy conditions to top the 6-10 handicap category with a score of 38 points. N Prakash scored 38 points to top the 11-15 handicap category and J S Ahluwalia emerged victorious in the 16-20 handicap category with a score of 36 points. Priyadarshi Harsha scored 37 points to top the 21-24 handicap category. The day's long drive challenge winner was L N Vittal who shot the ball 295 yards away to win the challenge on Hole 9.


While celebrities like Ashwini Ponnappa and Sujith Somasunder teed off on the first day of the Festival, Sharmila Nicollet and Nikita Ponnappa were present on day 2 to lend their support and add glitz and glamour to the Golf Festival. The stage is all set for an exciting golfing extravaganza with the likes of India's top amateur player Chikkarangappa and celebrities like Syed Kirmani, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi and E. Prasanna lined up in action.

Toyota Kirloskar Motors felicitates young Indian golfers

The Indian team displayed a magnificent performance at the Asia Pacific Championships for Nomura Cup at the Denarau Golf Course in Fiji, leapfrogging to third position. Team India comprising of current Junior National Champion S. Chikkarangappa, recently crowned Bangladesh Men's Champion Khalin Joshi, Asian Games medalist Abhijit Chadha and Chandigarh's Angad Cheema were in third position after three rounds and ended with a podium finish with an aggregate of 211 in the fourth with a final total of 865. The Indian team outperformed Asian giants Korea & Japan, who ended their campaign at the tournament in 4th and 5th positions respectively.

Promising teenage golf sensation, Khalin Joshi, ended his individual campaign at the tournament in the third position. Joshi played a superb four-under 68, his best score of the week for a total of three-under 285 that placed him tied third with Daniel Bringolf of Australia and Ryan Fox of New Zealand.


With an aim to encourage young golf talent to become unrivaled golfers in the world, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., over the years has lent its support to a number of Junior Golf tournaments across the country. As the reigning Toyota-IGU Inter Club Junior Champion, 19 year old Khalin Joshi has carved a niche for himself on the junior circuit and is working his way up the amateur tour. S.Chikkarangappa is the reigning Toyota-IGU All India Junior Champion who has proved himself time and again with victories at home and internationally.


On the occasion of announcing the 3rd edition of the Toyota Karnataka Golf Festival, Mr.Shekar Vishwanathan, Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., felicitated the young prodigies, for spearheading the Indian victory. Commending the boys on their performance, Mr Vishwanathan said, "We take immense pride in the achievements of two of India's top Amateur Golfers, Khalin Joshi & Chikkarangappa, who did India proud by winning the Bronze medal for the country at Nomura Cup after a gap of 18 long years. It is truly a remarkable achievement for India and it is certainly delightful to see Khalin achieving 3rd position in individual standings, beating all The Asia Pacific Golfers."

Mr. Rishi Narain, Founder, Rishi Narain Golf Management congratulating the team commented "We are glad that India's young promising golfers Khalin and Chikka are being recognized for their accomplishments and fabulous display of skills at the Asia Pacific Nomura Cup. We are confident that these players will raise India's ranking and be potential medal winners in the 2016 Olympics, where golf is to be introduced".

Chikka and Khalin Joshi were part of a four-member Indian which also included Abhijit Chadha, winner of Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and Angad Cheema. The team secured India's first medal finish since 1993, when the team, comprising Amit Luthra, Amritinder Singh, Arjun Singh and Jyoti Randhawa had also won a bronze medal. Team Australia, meanwhile, won the Nomura Cup for a record ninth time with a final round of 201 and a total of 840, while New Zealand finished second at 861 with a final round of 209.