A stellar line-up of professionals will vie for the impressive prize purse of Rs 5.6 million, the pro event carrying the highest prize money in the country. The tournament co-sanctioned by Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) will be organized by Nepal Professional Golfers Association (NPGA).
As Bangalore's Chikkarangappa S returns to defend his title, he will be challenged by other emerging youngsters from India including Khalin Joshi, Shubhankar Sharma and Abhijit Singh Chadha, a former Surya Nepal Masters champion, and Om Prakash Chouhan. Experienced campaigners and former PGTI Order of Merit winners Mukesh Kumar, Chiragh Kumar and Shamim Khan will also be other big names from India. Shamim is also a former champion.
Local Shivaram Shrestha, the winner of 2013 edition, will lead the charge for the host country. Nepal No 1 Shivaram is one of the favorites at the home turf.
Sri Lanka's challenge will be backed by the likes of Asian Tour regular Mithun Perera and N Thangaraja, a multiple winner on the PGTI.
Indian rookies Pratap Atwal and Feroz Singh Garewal have emerged as the dark horses as the two have posted three top-10s between themselves in the season so far.
Commenting on the event PGTI Director Padamjit Sandhu said, "Events such as the Surya Nepal Masters have over the years helped the PGTI establish itself as the premier tour of the South Asian region. The increased prize purse and strong field at this year's edition promise a week of top-class golfing action."
The Gokarna Golf Resort extend within 470 acres of the Gokarna Forest Reserve, is one most spectacular golfing venues of South Asia. The calm environment is likely to be distracted by the sight of deer and monkeys who wander freely in the vicinity.
Defending champion Chikkarangappa is the emerging star on the Indian golfing horizon. He has six titles to his name including one on the Asian Development Tour. He earned his maiden Asian Tour card in 2015 after finishing fourth at the Qualifying School. Chikka is currently placed second in the Rolex Rankings thanks to his win at PGTI's last event in Ahmedabad.
Mithun Perera, an Asian Tour regular, is currently Sri Lanka's top golfer. He is a winner of five titles and one of the top international names in the field. He was recently tied third at the Hero Indian Open 2015.
Shivaram Shrestha has been Nepal's top professional golfer for the last few years. Shrestha's only professional win came at the Surya Nepal Masters 2013. He has been a consistent performer on home soil having finished third, tied third and tied fifth in the 2011, 2012 and 2014 editions of the tournament respectively.
Abhijit Singh Chadha won the 2012 Surya Nepal Masters. He was runner-up in the 2013 edition of the tournament and tied third in 2014. He earned his maiden Asian Tour card in 2015 after finishing inside the top-40 at the Qualifying School. Abhijit was a member of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
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