Pin Fernando golf on Saturday

Richard Dwight

Every now and then, there comes along a man, who through his varied contributions lights up the fairways and greens of the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) and elsewhere.

Mainly so, by playing this fine sport, golf in the way and manner it was intended to be played. One such man as this, with intrinsic worth and wide appeal both on and off the golf course was undoubtedly the illustrious, W. P. Fernando, affectionately spoken of as Pin considered Sri Lanka’s finest amateur golfer. Regarded as a pioneer to be a pathfinder, Pin’s memory since his death and even before, has been perpetuated through a well sustained annual golf tournament in his name by the RCGC.

This year’s Pin Fernando golf tournament, the 29th and sponsored by United Tractor and Equipment Ltd for the past seven years, takes place on Saturday July 12 at the RCGC. The competition which is prestigious enough to be a Board event, had its origin during the 1979 centenary year of the RCGC.

It is open to the members of the club with a maximum handicap of 18. Those with handicaps above 18 will be eligible, but will play off 18.

The qualifying round for around 150 golfers will commence on Saturday July 12 on the medal play format.

The players with the best 32 nett scores in the medal round will be drawn to play match, play according to their qualifying rank.

The winner will be awarded the ‘Pin Fernando Memorial Trophy’ - the prizes would be for the winner and runner-up match play, Best gross score - qualifying round and best nett score - qualifying round.

Lest we forget, we would do well to recall the wide array of achievements of this legendary golfer, Pin in winning 52 championships viz, Sri Lanka 10, All India 2, Western India 1, RCGC 19, Nuwara Eliya Golf Club 7 and Havelock Golf Club 11.