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Digvijay makes a grand entry into the pro golf circuit

Digvijay Singh played four days of consistent golf to emerge triumphant in the Qualifying School for the 1999-2000 season of the Wills Sport Golf Tour, which was played at the 6383-yard, par-71 Rambagh Golf Club, Jaipur.

He posted an impressive level-par 284 to take the top spot in the event, held from the July 5 to 11.

Amit Dube, one of India's top ranked amateurs till he turned professional in February this year, claimed the second spot carding six-over 290.

Some of India's leading amateurs turned professional over the week. Harmeet Kahlon, Digvijay Singh and Tarun Sardesai, were some of the noted golfers who took the plunge.

Returning to the Indian tour after three years as a teaching pro in the United States was Raghujit Randhawa, better known in golfing circles as 'Bamby'.

Also moving homeward was one of the most promising Indian golfing talents in the form of Zai Kipgen, who returns fresh from completing a golf scholarship in the United States.

The top 48 players in the Q-school get their card for the 1999-2000 Wills Sport Indian Golf Tour.

A number of overseas players shared the limelight with their Indian counterparts at the Q-School. Mark Fletcher and Chrispen Mansion of the United Kingdom, Chand Mian, Babu Ahmed and R.Karim of Bangladesh, Toran Shahi, R.S.Thapa, Deepak Magar, Deepak Acharya, Deepak Neopane, Sabin Sapkota, G.Nagarkot and Pashupati Sharma of Nepal constituted the list of foreign participants.

The disappointment of the week, however, was India's No 1 amateur Harmeet Kahlon, who played way below potential to finish a modest 19th, carding a four-day tally of 304.

A record 285 players registered for the Q-School, with 240 of them eventually participating. The 5th to the 7th of July witnessed the pre-qualifying rounds being played, with 162 players, including 45 exempted players qualifying to play on the first two of the final four days, namely the 8th and 9th of July. The cut was applied at 21 over as a result of which, the field was further skittled down to 121 for the final two days.

The players ranked in the top 15:
1.Digvijay Singh (284) ; 2. Amit Dube (290); 3. Hasim Ali (293); 4. Raghujit Randhawa (295) ; 5. Mark Fletcher - (296) ; 6. Raju Ali (297); 7. Gyan Chand - (297); 8. Tarun Sardesai - (297); 9. Prakash Kubde (298) ; 10. Tarak Roy (299) ;11. Ajay Gupta (300) ; 12. Amandeep Bhaika (300) ; 13. Monish Bindra (301) ; 14. Zai Kipgen (301) ; 15. Mohd. Yamin (302).

The best rounds on each of the last four days:
Day -1: Digvijay Singh Five-under 66
Day -2 : Hasim Ali , Tarak Roy One-under 70
Day -3 : Amit Dube Six-under 65
Day -4 : Mohd. Yamin Two-under 69