Askari Bank 11th Vice Admiral HMS Ch Amateur Golf gets underway tomorrow

LAHORE (Abdul Basit): The Askari Bank 11th Vice Admiral HMS Chaudhry Amateur Golf Cup 2025 will tee off tomorrow (Thurs­day) at the Defence Raya Golf Course, Lahore, with top amateur, senior and la­dies golfers from across the country set to compete for honours in one of the na­tion’s most respected ama­teur golf events. 

Addressing a media brief­ing at PN War College on Tuesday, Rear Admiral So­hail Ahmad Azmie, Com­mander Central Punjab, said that the championship has grown into a major high­light on the national golf calendar, attracting wide­spread enthusiasm and ex­ceptional performances in previous editions. 

He said participants re­main highly motivated to take part this year, with reg­istration already open and golfers from various cities eager to secure their spots early. “This cup has gained remarkable importance over the years. The players con­sistently perform with excel­lence, and we have arranged valuable prizes for the top performers this year as well,” Rear Admiral Azmie noted. 

He expressed gratitude to the management of De­fence Raya Golf and Country Club for their continued col­laboration in organising the event, highlighting their sup­port as essential to the tour­nament’s growth and suc­cess. “I appreciate the hard work of our team and extend my thanks to the players travelling from other cities to participate. I am confident that the championship will provide a highly satisfying experience,” he added. 

Rear Admiral Azmie also praised the media for its positive coverage of Navy-hosted amateur golf tourna­ments, expressing hope that the same spirit of support will continue. The champi­onship features three pri­mary categories:Amateurs: Handicap 10 and below, competing over 54 holes (18 holes daily for three days); Ladies: Handicap 24 and be­low, playing 18 holes and Se­nior Amateurs: Handicap 12 and below, competing over 36 holes across two days. 

Highlighting the tourna­ment’s legacy, Rear Admiral Azmie said that previous winners of CNS Amateur events, including Ahmad Baig and Ghazanfar Mah­mood, have now progressed to the professional circuit and occupy strong positions in the Pakistan Golf Federa­tion (PGF) rankings. 

He also highlighted the Pakistan Navy’s long-stand­ing commitment to sports, especially golf. He said that Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf takes a per­sonal interest in promoting sporting excellence and has issued special directives to ensure the successful con­duct of this year’s champi­onship. “The Pakistan Navy has consistently prioritised the growth of sports na­tionwide, with the uninter­rupted hosting of this cham­pionship in Lahore since 2011 serving as a proof of that commitment.”