History-making Women's Professional Golf launched

History-making Women's Professional Golf launched

Pakistan's first professional ladies' golf tournament, the Fatima Jinnah Punjab Open Golf Championship, got underway at Lahore's Royal Palm Golf and Country Club, marking a watershed moment for women's golf in the country’s history.

This happening has become possible after the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) approved key changes in the Ladies Professional Golf Tour and Open Golf Championships at its recently held Annual General Meeting. This big change is designed to enhance opportunities for female golfers and promote the growth of women's golf in Pakistan. There are hopes that in a couple of years, our accomplished professional lady golfers will be in a position to be a part of the Ladies Asian Tour which is now a sanctioned tour for women's professional golf by Asia Pacific Golf Confederation.

The event, directed by Minaa Zainab, follows the Pakistan Golf Federation's recent approval of changes to the Ladies Professional Golf Tour, including a minimum prize money of Rs. 0.5 million per event. The initiative aims to prepare Pakistani women golfers for future participation in the Ladies Asian Tour.

The inaugural tournament features six professional players: Hamna Amjad (Rumanza Golf Club), Zahida Durrani and Ghazala Yasmin (Lahore Garrison), and Tahira Nazir, Arooba Ali, and Hajra Amjad (Rawalpindi Golf Club). First-round scores saw Hamna Amjad leading with 80, followed by Zahida Durrani (81) and Ghazala Yasmin (84). But now that they are playing as professionals they have to substantially enhance their playing capabilities through hours and hours of practice backed by high-grade coaching and continuous participation in championships, a huge task indeed.

In the Amateur Section's Category A, Parkha IIjaz Khan of Defence Raya leads with a score of 76, ahead of Ana James Gill (80) and Laiba Ali Shah (81).

The tournament marks the beginning of a new era for women's golf in Pakistan, with emerging talents like Bushra Fatima, Laiba Ali Shah, and Suneya Osama representing the next generation of professional female golfers.

Minaa Zainab, the Tournament Director, hopes that over the next two rounds, the professional lady golfers will set the pace with a demonstration of quality golf.