The 12th J.A. Zaman Memorial Open Golf Championship is underway at Lahore Gymkhana Golf Club, with the Amateur leg commencing this week. Firmly established among Pakistan’s premier golf tournaments, the event is being contested over two weeks, with amateurs competing first, followed by professionals. This year has drawn strong participation across categories, including 96 players in Men’s Amateur, 82 in Seniors, 64 in Veterans, and 24 in Ladies Amateur, reflecting the championship’s growing stature and nationwide appeal.
Hosted annually by the Zaman family in memory of J.A. Zaman, an avid golfer and proud member of Lahore Gymkhana – his home club – the tournament is a testament to the family’s unwavering commitment to the sport.
Mr. Hamid Zaman, Chief Organiser, expressed his pride, saying, “At the J.A. Zaman Championship, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and fair play. Our priority is to continuously evolve the tournament into a truly competitive platform. The prize money has also been increased to 10 million for this year’s championship. Both men and ladies amateurs are competing for WAGR ranking points over a demanding three-day format. Notably, we are witnessing a significant rise in participation from younger amateur players and we remain fully committed to supporting and nurturing this growth.”
Tournament Director Aahyan Mumtaz added, “We are more than satisfied with the overall arrangements, and the field has met our expectations. Moving forward, our aim is to further enhance the quality of competition and work towards introducing a Pro-Am format, as there is precedent for such events in Pakistan. I am grateful to Lahore Gymkhana Golf Club for their full support. The course is in excellent condition, and its historic character adds greatly to the prestige of the tournament.” Rules Official Ms. Munazza Shaheen further noted, “It is a great honour to serve as a referee at one of Pakistan’s most anticipated and professionally organised championships – now for the third consecutive year. Participation continues to grow annually, with nearly 100 professionals competing this year, alongside a strong presence of junior golfers, which is particularly encouraging. This trend reflects the steady progress of golf in Pakistan towards international standards. Notably, adherence to the rules is also visibly improving, further strengthening the competitive spirit of the game.”
Over the years, the J.A. Zaman family has played a pivotal role in nurturing and elevating the championship, ensuring it continues to grow in scale, professionalism, and competitive quality with each edition. Their dedication has transformed the event into a key fixture on Pakistan’s golfing calendar, attracting top professionals, accomplished amateurs, and emerging juniors from across the country. Past winners such as Shabbir Iqbal and Ahmed Baig highlight the high level of competition, while the event continues to provide an important platform for developing players. Lahore Gymkhana’s demanding course, known for its narrow fairways and testing greens, places a premium on precision and course management, making consistency crucial this week as amateurs vie for early honours before the Professionals take center stage in pursuit of one of Pakistan’s most coveted titles.