Top golfers gather for AsiaPacific Championships in Digana
Top masters professional golfers from around the world are set to make the picturesque Victoria Golf and Country Resort in Digana, Kandy a busy venue for four days beginning from February 15. Over 60 senior professionals are set to take part in the historic SriLankan Airlines Senior PGA Asia Pacific Champions Tour event, the first ever PGA tour Sri Lanka will host in its golfing history.
Among the top golfers expected to feature in the four-day tournament are former PGA champions Mike Harwood, Terry Gale from Australia and Jamnian Chitrasong from Thailand in addition to other top golfers from USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Philippines, Switzerland, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
According to Mike Varney, the Chief Executive Officer of International Golf Solutions, the main organisers of the tournament, these golfers are set to go through a brand new experience while the outcome of the tournament has a far more importance than it appears.
“I was involved with the Srilankan Golf Classics here previously which gave me a unique experience about golf in Sri Lanka which has three fantastic golf courses. From the points of views of International Golf Solutions and the Asia Pacific Tour, we always make sure there is a message sent through the venue and the hosting country we play in. This tournament will feature over 60 professional masters and the message is to spread around the inter- national golf circuit about Sri Lanka and look the possibilities of promoting this beautiful country as a golfing destination,” Varney told journalists in Colombo.
The tournament will begin with a practice day on February 15, followed by a Proam tournament on the following day, giving the local golfers the opportunity to play along with the Asia Pacific Tour professionals. On February 17 and 18, the main competition will be played.
“We at Srilankan Airlines make use of sports as one way to attract tourists to the country. We have been doing it in rugby, pro surfing and golf. This event will be very much in significant for us where top senior professional golfers take part in Sri Lankas first ever PGA golf tournament,” said Nishantha Wickramasinghe, the Chairman of Srilankan Airlines.
Commenting further on the development was G.T. Jayaseelan, the Chief Marketing Officer of Srilankan Airlines: “We have put in track golf back with the Srilankan calendar after three years. These are the kind of tournaments that will bring in the upmarket sector. With the interest generated from Sri Lankas first ever professional golf tournament we hope to revitalise the Srilankan Golf Classics in a few months hoping to run it continuously. We hope Sri Lanka will also get the opportunity to host this PGA tournament annually.”
The venue of the event, the Victoria Golf Course, is expected to win the hearts of the professional golfers according to Varney. He says the scenic stretch over 200 hectares is one of the best in the region with a challenging 18-hole turf.
“The layout of the Victoria Golf Course is outstanding. Its par 73, its 6800 yards long spread and its slider altitudes will definitely give the professionals a very good experience to remember apart from the surrounding sceneries and the wonderful layout of the course. Most of the professionals are very curious about Sri Lanka and its golf. I’m sure they will take back fond memories,” added Varney who tipped Harwood as one of the hot favourites to clinch the championship.
Sri Lanka gets to host the Senior PGA Asia Pacific Champions Tour after International Golf Solutions completed its recent tours in Bangkok, Thailand and Perth Australia. The winners are set to walk away with attractive prizes in addition to a five-night golf holiday in Bangkok. Srilanka Airlines are the sponsors and promoters of the tournament in Sri Lanka.