Noida: Golfers Sahil Jain Handicap Category A (0-17) and Saikat Jain – Handicap Category B (18-24) qualified for the National Finals of MercedesTrophy 2019 on day 2 of the Gurugram leg qualifier held at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort today. Sahil and Saikat clinched the final two qualification spots available from the leg by carding a nett. score of 72.4 and 72.8 respectively. The MercedesTrophy 2019 has so far seen 34 qualifiers including today who will be competing in the National Finals to be played at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune from 27th-29th March,2019.

Prominent winners included Joydeep Nayar who won the Ballantine’s Long Drive Challenge with a mammoth drive of 305 yards. Nishit Sadh won the Standard Chartered Closest to Pin contest on hole no. 16 by landing the ball at 5 ft. 6 inches from the pin. In the Mercedes – Benz Closest to Pin in Two Shots, Rohit Duggal landed the ball at 5 ft.7 inches from the pin to win the contest on hole no. 1. Vipender Sabherwal won the Mercedes-Benz Straightest Drive contest on hole no.11 by landing the ball on the line.

The format of play was Double Peoria. This unique format of adjusting handicaps of players levels the playing field enabling golfers to have a greater chance of qualifying for the National Finals.

A total of around 120 golfers competed on Day 2 of MercedesTrophy Gurugram leg. The MercedesTrophy will now move to Chandigarh for the next qualification leg where another four qualification spots will be on offer. The Chandigarh leg will tee off on 6th March 2019 at Panchkula Golf Course.

This year for the first time, Mercedes-Benz’s global charity partner– Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is also associated with the tournament to raise funds for its programmes in India. While participants can donate online or on-ground at the tournament venue, Mercedes-Benz India will donate an equal amount to match the funds raised from participants.

Globally, MercedesTrophy witnesses participation of approximately 60,000 golfers from across 60 countries battling it out for the top prize, making it one of the world’s largest and most coveted sporting events.

Three winners of the National Finals will then compete against those from tournaments played in 60 countries all over the world in the 30th edition of the MercedesTrophy World Final to be held in Stuttgart, Germany. Mercedes-Benz is also providing an opportunity for beginners to learn golf through their Golf Clinic program.