129th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship at Digana
The 129th edition of the Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship 2016 gets underway at the Victoria Golf Course with participants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Afghanistan. The Ladies Amateur Championship is conducted concurrently with India, Pakistan & Thailand joining Sri Lanka for a team event.
Thailand’s, Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng who won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship last year will not be participating this year. But Thailand will have two other young amateurs in Kammalas Namuangruk and Sangchai Kaewcharoen. Sri Lankan Thangaraja now successful on the Indian Pro Golf Tour was the last Sri Lankan to win the title in 2012 and 2013. This year the Sri Lankan challenge rests with some top class players such as Sisira Kumara, Sanjeewa, Ranga, Indika, Amarapadma and young hopefuls Pradeep Bandara, Chanaka Perera, Chalitha Pushpika and Husni Uwise. Junior Regional Winner in Victoria in July 2016, Armand Flamer Caldera could be a wild card.
The International Team Championship for the Parlakimedi Trophy will be played on an aggregate two member team gross score over two rounds.
The two rounds will also serve as the qualifying rounds for the Match Play Sri Lanka Amateur Championship which will have an automatic draw based on the two round qualifying scores.
The Men’s Championship has a field of over 70 entries and 32 will qualify for match play with the 36 hole final scheduled to be played on October 22.
In the Ladies Championship 8 will qualify for match play stage and the 36 hole final will be played on October 21.
Thailand’s, Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng who won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship last year will not be participating this year. But Thailand will have two other young amateurs in Kammalas Namuangruk and Sangchai Kaewcharoen.
The Sri Lankan challenge in the ladies will be led by youngsters Tania Minel, Kayla Perera, Sandiya Kumari from Victoria Golf Course and ever green golfer and consistent performer at Victoria Golf Course, Niloo Jayathilake