Bank Al Habib's 5th Rashid D. Habib National Professional Golf Tournament started on Wednesday, here at Karachi Golf Club, Karsaz with the trials and local Karachi Golf Club categories. 65 professional golfers successfully made up the entry trial session out of 123 professionals, who participated from nation-wide golf clubs. The 18 holes trial was a pre-requisite to qualify for the 5th Rashid D. Habib Memorial National professional championship to be held on January 15-17, 2016.
This is also the beginning of Bank AL Habib's Silver Jubilee Golf celebrations that started nation-wide with the start of 5th Rashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Tournament with the record prize money of Rs 5 million along with the additional prize of brand new Toyota Corolla car for a Hole in One.
A new category of junior professionals for encouraging the youngsters has also been added. Most of the top 30 Pakistan golf professionals has also confirmed their participation including defending champion and Pakistan No 2 Shabbir Iqbal and current Pakistan No 1 golfer Mohammad Munir.
Bank Al Habib has increased the prize money of the national professional tournament to Rs 3 million as that was Rs 2.5 million in 2015. A brand new Toyota car also waits for the lucky player who would make a hole-in-one. The total appearance money for top five national professionals has been doubled to Rs 500,000 from the last year figure of Rs 250,000. Simultaneously, first round of KGC caddies and local professionals was also played with 100 participants. This year, prize money of Rs 800,000 will be distributed as per rules to winners from KGC caddies, professionals and senior Professional as compared to last year's prize money of Rs 500,000.-PR