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| Saturday, 04 September 2004 |
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Junior world golfer Amrith's aim is to be a professional by Richard Dwight Amrith de Soysa, fired perhaps by the success achieved in winning the All India junior golf championship and, as well the creating of history on becoming the youngest ever at the age of 15, to win the 2002 RCGC title - has since determined within himself to be a golf professional. Even prior to this, in his formative years he displayed a fondness for golf, where he thought, talked and lived golf - where in the process he was victorious in quite a few tournaments too. And so after a spell as a student, firstly at S. Thomas' College and later at the Colombo International School, Amrith in pursuance of his ambition of being a professional, left Sri Lanka last year at the age of 16 for USA, to join the prestigious David Leedbetter Golf Academy in Florida. The Academy spoken of as one of the best in the world, is guided and directed by an International Management Group. It's on a 200 acre stretch of land in South West Florida, with Facilities for around 1,500 students between the ages 9 years to 19, drawn from about 78 counties. While some lodge in the campus, the others are at liberty to attend the Academy from their homes. Apart from being a sports school, where accredited coaches of repute train and guide their charges in seven sports viz, tennis, golf, basketball, baseball, soccer, American football and ice hockey, it is also a high school, where students could continue with their studies and, with the help of the Academy, gain admission to an appropriate university in the States. According to Amrith his six day week's programme at this Academy is made up of 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. golf, followed by an hour's lunch break. 12.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. attending school, studying various subjects. 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. golf or sports psychology. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. compulsory study hall, where one catches up with missed work and, every other day from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. it's a work out in the Gym. The seventeen year old Amrith who was here on a brief holiday, is full of praise for the Academy, which is well established, enjoying a wide reputation. It has had in its fold the acclaimed Russian tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova, the world renowned Williams sisters, Serena and Venus and as well the famed professional Andre Aggassi and Pete Sampras. This certainly does speak well of the David Leedbetter Golf Academy, where Maria is still there, being trained by the same physiotherapist that attends on Amrith - who also comes under the famed golf coach Tim Sheredy, to whom Amrith is very thankful. All this and more, within the one and a half years at the Academy, does appear to have given him remarkable maturity and tremendous mental strength. Evidence of this was seen in July this year, when he participated in the Junior World Golf Tournament in Sandiego, California. This mega annual tournament for juniors under the age 18, found Amrith pitted against 220 juniors from 48 countries. It redounds to the credit of Amrith, that he performed exceptionally well to finish 11th in this prestigious world-wide junior tournament. He however did have the satisfaction of defeating Australia's No. 2, 3 and 4, the best three from New Zealand and the best two from England as well. This indeed is fine progress, a clear indication of Amrith moving positively to achieve his goal of being a recognized professional. Within the next 2 years, he will finish his studies at the High School in the Academy, and thereafter with the help of the school, will enter a university in the states to do a 3-year degree, in either being a teaching professional or a playing professional. Amrith is to be a playing professional. If things work out well, it's well and good or otherwise he will have his mind on managing a golf resort, in either Singapore or Malaysia. He strongly feels for the caddies here, who he says are very talented, but lack opportunities to prove themselves. Amrith is mindful that 'ODEL' sponsors his clothing, whilst tailor - made 'Adidas' sponsor his equipment. He stood grateful to his parents for their encouraging assistance at all times, to Pheroze Billimoria, who nurtured him in the art of golf in those formative years, to the SLGU and to Ana Punchihewa, the former president of the Sir Lanka Cricket Board and presently consultant to the SLGU, for his consistent support. Amrith did not fail to mention that he was in the golf pool, and that he would be keen on getting into the Sri Lanka team, to play in the 2006 Asian Games. |
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