SL to host first professional golf tournament

Standard Chartered Open Golf 2012:

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Sri Lanka will host the country's debut major professional international golf tournament when the Standard Chartered Open 2012, an event sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) teeing off at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) from August 15 to 18.

The four-day US $ 50,000 prize money tournament will feature 120 professional golfers in the region including leading Indian players Shiv Kapur, Anirban Lahir, Himmat Rai, Chiragh Kumar and Divijay Singh along with local star players Anura Rohana and Mithun Perera. Anura and Mithun have been prominent PGTI members and won recognition in the international professional golf scene.

Prior to the main tournament a pre-tournament, Pro-Am Championship will work off on August 14 where some of Sri Lanka's national cricketers including Test captain Mahela Jayawardena will take part. Six amateur golfers will be taking part in the Pro-Am Championship.

The title sponsor Standard Chartered who is a keen supporter of golf in Sri Lanka with RCGC, the most prominent golf club in the country will create history by staging this prestigious tournament in Sri Lanka.

The event will support Sri Lanka to gain popularity as a venue for international golf tournaments. Golf tourism has been a significant element in many countries and events of this magnitude will help to establish Sri Lanka on the world's sporting map as a quality golfing destination.

The Standard Chartered CEO Arivan Ghosh Dastidar said that they are proud to sponsor the first PGTI tournament in Sri Lanka and look forward positively to support Sri Lanka golf.

The PGTI Director Padmajit Sandhu said, "we are delighted to announce our first event in Sri Lanka. The tournament will help generate tremendous interest in the country and popularize golf in the island. We are confident that the event will strengthen golfing ties between India and Sri Lanka".

Pro Golf Pvt. Ltd, a leading golf equipment importer in Sri lanka and Sports Mantra India Pvt. Ltd, experts in sports marketing and golfing activities have also joined hands with PGTI, RCGC and SL Tourism Promotion Bureau in staging the big event.

Mahela Jyawardena, who is a very passionate golf enthusiast said that apart from cricket as an individual sport he is so keen on golf. He also said that both the main tournament and the Pro-Am will be a great experience for local golf fans. Hahela will host a charity auction in aid of his charity to develop youth cricket and golf in Sri Lanka.

In addition to the Pro-Am and the auction there will be other activities during the four days as further contributions to the development of local golf. Golf clinics from tournament professionals for junior and senior golfers, opportunities for interaction between tournament professionals, officials and media as a means of expanding the local golfing knowledge base will be arranged by the organizers in between the events.