Aryan and Tanisha tee off at the Junior Golf Tournament organised by Indian Golf Union at Patna Golf Club in Patna on Wednesday. Pictures by Ashok Sinha

Golf clubs in hand, children from three cities — Patna, Jamshedpur and Ranchi — made the greens talk for their abilities as the wannabe Tigers and Wies completed a 36-hole tournament over the last two days at Patna Golf Club.

The 30 and odd youngsters played 18 holes each day — something taxing even for the professionals — in the junior golf tournament organised by Indian Golf Union.

For Jamshedpur boy Aryaveer Singh (8), it is Tiger Woods who inspires him for the game. “I just love watching Tiger. I want to become like him,” said Aryaveer, who sweats out two hours everyday on the golf course but sometime his practice hours stretch to four hours also. “We feel helpless at that time because until Aryaveer is satisfied with his practice he won’t be back. We have to let him do what he wants because we know he is taking this game seriously,” said Shweta Singh, Aryaveer’s mother.

Sana Ahmad, a Class X student of Notre Dame Academy, said she started playing this game when she realized there is a glam quotient attached to it. “The best thing about this game is that you are able to turn around heads. This is why I just love it,” said Sana. “My cousin brother was offered a scholarship from a US university because of this game. So if you are a good golfer, sky is the limit,” added Sana.

It’s not known whether Sana idolises Michelle Wie, the the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship, but several girls like Tanisha from Jamshedpur have set their eyes on the golfer.

Tanisha, 7, the junior-most among all participants, said this was her third tournament “In the last tournament, which I played at my hometown, I was the winner so no one should take me for granted here,” said Tanisha.

Mamta Kumari, Tanisha’s mother, said: “Tanisha is good at everything. I am confused about her future as she plays golf with the same passion like dancing.”

Aditya Kalyan, a Class X student of Radiant International School, has no qualms in admitting that if given an option, he would choose golf, not studies. “My mother often gets angry with me because of golf. Everyday, when I return from the course, I start interacting with my father about whatever happened on the course. Our discussion goes for a long period and so my mother gets irritated but she knows she cannot stop me and my father from playing golf,” said Kalyan with a smile.

Manoj Jha, the tournament director, said the main aim of organizing this junior golf tournaments is to produce more Tiger Woods and Gaganjeet Milkha Singh. “This is a zonal-level competition. In the two-day tournament, 30 children from the east zone participated. We have plans to organize eight events. The participants are required to play at least in five events on the basis of which they would earn points and those who would earn the maximum points would be selected for the national-level tournament which we are going to organize after October,” said Jha.

While Sharif Khan was adjudged first, M. Rohind Singh and Amit Shaw were declared second and third. respectively.