Thangaraja wins 125th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship

Anuradha Abeysekera

Reigning champion Nadaraja Thangaraja (Raja) retained Sri Lanka Amateur Golf crown for the second consecutive year by beating Bangladesh golfer Mohamed Dulal in the 125th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship finals concluded at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) yesterday evening. India’s Gursimar Badwal walked away with the ladies Amateur Championship shield beating local golfer Jacky Dias in the final.

Thangaraja had an early set back during the Stroke Play first round in the tournament, but came back strongly in the second round to qualify as the top seed. Proving his golfing excellence he maintained his unbeaten states in the knock out stage and qualified for the finals by beating Zen Dharmaratne (3/2) in the semi-final.

Dulal, a prominent Amateur in the South East Asian Region who made his second presence in the championship after 2010 also played some classy golf and booked his final berth by defeating local golfer M. Arumugam (3/2) in the semi-final match. The two top seeds of the tournament reached the final, confirming the accuracy of the form and seedings of the players.

Champion Raja appreciated the huge ground support he received from RCGC members and caddies and said he knew that he can win easily after India’s reigning Amateur champion Angad Cheema who Raja expected to be a threat was beaten by local National Pool player Hemantha earlier in the quarters.

“But I did not play my best in the tournament. It was not my usual game, but things turned out for me nicely. I am getting ready for my next tournament in Bangkok with a winning mentality and hope to bring honour to Sri Lanka, said the champion.

The championship is another milestone of Thangaraja’s career and emphasized the process of maturity achieved by the Sri Lankan golfers with five National Pool players reaching the last ‘eight’ in the championship.

The International Team Event for Parlakamedi Trophy was won by Sri Lanka ‘B’ team comprising M. Arumugam with Sisira Kumara while local ‘A’ team, included Thangaraja and N. Ranga emerged runner-up. The traditional Team encounter between Sri Lanka and Pakistan for Gen. Zia-Ul-Haq trophy was bagged by Sri Lanka ‘A’ team.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage graced the award ceremony as the chief guest and offered a special cash award for the champion Thangaraja. The Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) President Ana Punchihewa thanked the RCGC, the Tournament Committee and the sponsors. He specially thanked the ground staff of the RCGC for maintaining a super course despite the rain and difficult conditions.

“The Championship will be a memorable one for all International Teams and local participants being the second oldest in the World,” said SLGU President.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Afghanistan completed the field to mark the conclusion of the 125 th Sri Lanka Championship with a memorable victory for Sri Lanka.