May 27: India international, Gaurav Ghei has won the coveted Mahindra Champion Golfer of the Year Award in its inaugural year, claiming in the process a cash award of Rs four lakhs.

It took Ghei's prize earnings to Rs 15 lakhs from 18 tournaments on the PGA India Golf Tour, September 96 to April 97.Ghei pipped Vijay Kumar of Lucknow in a tense finish to the PGA Indian Tour, winning the last two tournaments to surge to the top.

The rankings, tabulated on a computer generated complex system of performance and prize money, calculated 229.50 points and 70.53 stroke average for Ghei.The ranking calculations, based on the US PGA Player of the Year system are devised in such a manner that the highest money earner need not necessarily be the number one in the rankings.

The PGAAI-controlled India Tour managed 18 tournaments with a healthy prize money outlay of Rs 12.6 million.The data for the Rookie of the Year Award amounting to Rs one lakh for the best performance in the first year of the Tour is being reviewed. The winner will be announced shortly. The awards function to be held in New Delhi on June 21 is expected to be strongly attended by the Indian golf fraternity.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.