From L-R – (Lance Bennett, VP, Sales & Marketing, MBIL), Arjun Nohwar (Winner – Category A) & Leander Paes
The 22nd annual edition of the Mercedes Trophy, the largest amateur golf series in the country involving around 2500 amateur golfers in 23 regional rounds across India, held its National Final at Oxford Golf Resort in Pune to select three winners to go to the MercedesTrophy World Finals in Stuttgart in Germany, against competitors from 50 countries across the globe.
From L-R – National Final Winners – Ranjeet Kakkad, Arjun Nohwar & Ravi Shah
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68 finalists and around 50 spouses were in Pune for this grand event which included a gala welcome dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Pune, a visit to the Mercedes plant where a visit to the shop floor, a presentation at the state of the art Visitor Centre and a mind blowing driving experience as well as Electric vehicle test drives provided never to be forgotten memories. The golf at Oxford was spectacular as ever and conditions were that play would be without caddies, standard practice at the National Final, since the World Final in Germany is played without caddies also.
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Tennis superstar Leander Paes and former Olympic swimmer turned 1 handicap golfer Rehan Poncha added glamour to the occasion.
Former Olympic swimmer Rehan Poncha receives a memento
Last years’ World Final winners Amit Bhati and Nitin Gupta from Delhi enjoyed a game with the two sports stars, providing them priceless thrills and memories.
The special prize on offer, as always was the Straightest Drive contest or “Drive to Major’ for which the winner gets an all expense paid trip to the Open championship in Britain this July with Mercedes Benz hospitality, since the brand has been an official partner of the Open championship for many years. Another money can’t buy experience for the winner of this contest.
A highlight of the event was the hole in one on the 150 yard 8th hole for Arjun Nohwar from Mumbai, who also scored three birdies in his round, which fittingly took him to the top of the leaderboard.
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Results –
On Course Contest –
| Prize Category | Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to Major | Amarnath Reddy (Chennai) | 2.8ft |
| Longest Drive | Devang Shah (Ahmedabad) | 253 yard |
| Hole in One | Arjun Nohwar (Mumbai) | 8th hole |
From L-R – Pradeep Srinivas (GM, Marketing , MBIL), Leander Paes & Amarnath Reddy (Drive to Major Winner)
Pradeep Srinivas (GM, Marketing , MBIL) with Devang Shah (Winner – Mission Longest Drive)
Ladies –
| Category | Name | H’cap | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Mukta Malhotra(Delhi) | 20 | 37 |
| Runner-Up | Mrinalini Kaur ( Ahmedabad) | 16 | 34 |
From L-R -Vikas Kumaria (GM, Network Development, MBIL), Mukta Malhotra (Winner – Ladies Section) & Leander Paes
Winners – National Final –
| Category | Name | Handicap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Arjun Nohwar (Mumbai) | 7 | 36 |
| B | Ravi Shah (Ahmedabad) | 17 | 41 |
| C | Ranjeet Kakkad ( Aurangabad) | 21 | 38 |
Ravi Shah (Winner- Category B)
Ranjeet Kakkad (Winner -Category C)
Runners-Up – National Final –
| Category | Name | Handicap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Vidhit Tulshan (Delhi) | 8 | 36 |
| B | Dinakar Sangaram ( Bangalore) | 18 | 40 |
| C | Sumeet Verma ( Delhi) | 21 | 37 |
Dinakar Sangaram (Runner-Up Category B)