Published on April 18, 2018

Karachi, Pakistan: The Asian Tour will make a welcome return to Pakistan after an 11-year hiatus.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Open Golf Championship will be staged at the historic Karachi Golf Club (KGC) from July 24-27.
The US$300,000 CNS Open Golf Championship is the longest running professional golf event in Pakistan, having been part of the local circuit since 1995.
By joining the Asian Tour, the tournament will receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and give local golfers an opportunity to play alongside some of the region’s leading players.
The last time an Asian Tour event was staged in Pakistan was in 2007.
Last year, the Asian Development Tour (ADT) sanctioned a tournament in the country for the first time.
“This is great news for golf in Pakistan. We are thrilled to welcome the Asian Tour and its talented members to our beautiful country. It has been 11 years since we last staged an Asian Tour event and we are proud to work together with all sponsors to make this tournament a huge success,” said the Chief of Naval Staff.
The staging of the CNS Open Golf Championship will also boost the chances of local golfers to improve their world ranking and give them a better opportunity to try and qualify for the Japan Olympic Games in 2020.
“There was a huge representation of Asian golfers in the last Olympic Games and we hope to provide a viable platform for our golfers to improve on their world ranking. It is also our goal to promote golf among the younger generation in hopes that we will have a Pakistani golfer playing and contending regularly on the Asian Tour in the future,” the Chief of Naval Staff added.

Asian Tour Chief Executive Officer Josh Burack applauded the efforts of the Chief of Naval Staff and the Karachi Golf Club to stage an event on the Asian Tour, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“Our members are excited to return to Pakistan where we previously staged events in 2006 and 2007. The CNS Open Golf Championship is a great addition on our 2018 schedule and we look forward to working together with the sponsors and continue to grow the game in the country and across Asia,” said Burack.
Bilal Rafi Muneer, the Karachi Golf Club Captain, said: “These are exciting times for golf in Pakistan. The Karachi Golf Club is the oldest golf course in the country and it is only fitting that we stage a third Asian Tour event at our course.
“It’s a huge development not just for KGC but for Pakistan golf. The Asian Tour is coming back to Pakistan and we are all excited about it.”