Patna: Bilquis Jahan had a busy day on Friday, starting her morning with the golf championship in the city and then straight to work from the course.

Jahan, deputy director (exam department), Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination, teed off at the Patna Golf Club on Bailey Road at 7am. After playing for four-and-a-half hours, one would think exhaustion would set in, but Jahan disagreed.

"The best thing about golf is that it energises you for the whole day. Hitting the ball from one end of the golfing greens to another has another kind of charm," Jahan said around 11.30am. "Golf has started my day the right way. Playing with good golfers is an indulgence in itself."

Jahan is one of the 250 golfers who are participating in the 45th Annual Patna Golf Championship organised by Patna Golf Club from Friday. The first day of the three-day tournament was for women golfers, senior golfers and 19-24 handicap golfers. Jahan, whose office is in Mithapur, said she is hopeful about the result of the golf tourney that would be announced on Saturday.

"Last Sunday, I won the Achiever's Cup. I am hopeful of doing good in this tournament as well," Jahan said before leaving for her office around 6km away.

Mita Raj, another golfer in the tournament who finished her 18-hole game, said: "The weather was pleasant when we started off but it became hotter by the end. Still I enjoyed playing, and the company of the other women golfers. We loved how the golf club treated us," said Jagdeo Path resident Mita.

Mita has been playing the sport over the past 20 years, and her first time was around the time of her graduation when she would accompany her father to the course. "The Patna Golf Club is doing the right thing by honing skills of amateur golfers by providing them training here. Hope this golfing green can produce more golfing gems in the coming years," said Mita, owner of an automobile agency.

Governor Satya Pal Malik will award the winners at the prize-distribution ceremony on Saturday. MP Shatrughan Sinha would be the guest of honour.

While winner of the first two days of the championship would be handed over the Kalyanpur Cup and a woollen jacket - as per tradition of the last 44 years - the event will end with the 9 Hole Stableford Chanakya Cup tournament on Sunday.