KATHMANDU: The second Soaltee Crowne Plaza Annual Golf Tournament 2009 tees off here at the Gokarna Golf Club on Sunday.

In all 117 amateur golfers - 107 men and 19 women -- amateurs will compete for the championship. The organisers are introducing a new scoring system for the first time here in the tournament, namely, "modified bogey competition." Under the system, a golfer will earn two points for eagle or better score, one point for a birdie, none for a par, minus one for a bogey and minus two for double bogey or worse scores.

In their bid to make the event more interesting and attractive, the organisers, Soaltee Crowne Plaza, has offered lots of prizes this time around apart from the Silver Running Trophy for the winner.

The overall champion, winners in the men, women and senior sections will get an air ticket each along with complimentary stays for two in finest hotels such as Holiday Inn Glenmarie (Kuala Lumpur), Crowne Plaza (Delhi), Crowne Plaza Today (Gurgaon), Holiday Inn (Bangkok), Holiday Inn (Hongkong) and Holiday Inn Penang.

In all, 15 titles are on offer - overall winner and runner up, men's winner and runner up, Women's winner and runner up, senior winner and runner up, most birdies, longest drive, closest to the pin on second shot, closest to the pin, wooden spoon, best gross, best front-nine score and best back-nine score.

Sumitra Dayananda won the first edition held at the Royal Nepal Golf Club. The third edition will moved back to the RNGC.

General Manager of the hotel Greesh Bindra said that the event is getting bigger despite it is only the second year in running. "We had 88 entries last year but the number has gone remarkably high this time," added Bindra. "By organising the tournament, we are also promoting golf tournament in Nepal," added the Soaltee Crowne Plaza General Manager.

Bindra also revealed his plan to host a lucrative Crowne Plaza Open next year. "It's a big tournament with best golfers of the Asia Pacific region taking part in the event. We are trying to bring in the tournament here. If we are host the prestigious event here, local pros will get tremendous exposure," said Bindra.