Thangaraja wins the Delhi NCR Cup
Nadaraja Thangaraja the reigning Sri Lanka National Amateur Champion 2011 winning the 4 round Championship at the Victoria Golf and Country Resort Digana in November 2011, stamped his prowess as a strong contender for the future by winning The 7th Delhi NCR Cup conducted by the National Capital Region Delhi, inviting the top Amateur Golfers from All-india including representatives of countries in the South East Asian Region.
‘Raja’ as he is fondly known, climbed to the top of the Sri Lankan Amateur ranks in the most unconventional manner unlike the other Champion Golfers who graduated from the Caddy ranks. Raja born in the vicinity of the 11th Hole never was a caddy at the RCGC nor did he play as a junior in any of the junior or other Golf Tournaments. Instead Raja played a little Golf around his home but joined the Garment Industry when he turned 18 years and worked as a highly skilled Sewing Machine Operator at Royal Garments and was very competent in all the different Garment manufacturing departments including packing, maintenance, etc. However Raja always had Golf at the back of his mind and when the Waters Edge Golf Club Golf Course was built he joined as a Caddy in 2007.
Raja very appreciatively recalls the kindness and opportunity given to him when Ms. Shyama Perera Director at Waters Edge allowed the use of the Course and the Driving Range for all Caddies to play Golf in their free time in the hope that a Champion will be born. Mrs. Perera’s wish and generosity extended to aspiring Golfers has paid rich evidence where within a short space of 5 years Thangaraja has now become the No. 1 Sri Lanka Amateur Golfer representing the country since 2007 in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, Japan, Pakistan, India and Malaysia in several Amateur Championships.
Thangaraja has also represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Team Championship conducted alongside the Singapore Amateur Championship in early 2010, the Asian Amateur Championship in Japan in October 2010, Beijing Asian Games in China November 2010 and the SAARC Games 2012 in Jaipur, India in January.
Raja has played consistent Golf and improved gradually with his Debut in the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship in Nuwara Eliya in 2008 earning him a creditable 6th place among seasoned Golfers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the home-grown local challenge. Raja shocked many by being in the Top 3 early in the Tournament and the lack of experience gave him a few nervous moments to finish in 6th place. Raja has not looked back since then and after a few near misses won the Sri Lanka National Amateur Championship in November 2011.
The Invitational ‘Delhi NCR Cup’ a 4 Round Tournament played at the grueling 72 Par Delhi Golf Club Course in New Delhi India was played for the 7th Year and has Amateur Golfers from All-india participating with Golfers from the South East Asian Region too playing as this serves as a Regional Tournament.
Thangaraja played consistent Golf with an even par first round following up with 2 consecutive 4 under par rounds to lead the field with a total 8 under par going into the final round. Even though the pressure got to Raja he finished the final round 3 over par for a 4 round total of 5 under par 2 strokes clear of his nearest pursuers the best from India, Honey Baisoya and Jasjeet Singh who were tied in 2nd place on 3 under par. Significantly only 4th place Shubhankar Sharma also from India was the only other to be under par over 4 rounds. The 86 strong field was reduced for 44 players to complete the 4 rounds and the scores reflected the difficulty of the Course.
Following are a few excerpts of the interview with ‘Raja’ the new Sri Lanka Amateur Champ:
How do you feel having won the 7th Delhi NCR Cup in India?
A. I have no words to express my happiness.
Is this your best performance?
A. No, as I think winning the Sri Lanka National Amateur Championship in November 2011 at Victoria Golf Course Digana for the 1st time was the greatest moment for me.
So then how important is winning the Delhi NCR Cup?
A. After winning in Sri Lanka I knew I can win an International Tournament as well, so I am very happy that I was able to play good golf and prove that hard work can win tournaments beating the best in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and in South East Asia.
What do you mean by hard work?
A. The Tournaments we participated in, after winning the Sri Lanka Championship namely the SAARC games in Jaipur India, All India Amateur Championship in Chan- digarh and the Bangladesh Amateur Championship in February were very disappointing for us as we were not used to the cold, windy conditions and therefore we decided to work hard on our fitness, diet and health condition to face any challenge. What did you do differently? A. Our Tour Manager Mr. Ana Punchihewa advised us to start running early in the morning and he put us on a strict diet without rice for 7 days and I must say that though we missed eating rice our physical fitness with the advice of our Mental/physical Trainer Mr. Jagath, my fitness level improved so much that I was able to play better Golf.
Who would you like to thank for your success?
A. First of all Mrs. Shyama Perera, wife of Mr. Sumal Perera Chairman of Access International who are my Sponsors for a long time now and if Madam Shyama hadn’t asked Mr. Pheroze Billimoria, Course Director of Waters Edge Golf Course to give permission for us to play as Caddies on the Golf Course and in the Driving Range I would never have got the opportunity to play Golf. After that there are many others like the members of the Sri Lanka Golf Union Mr.
A. I want to turn Professional and play on the Indian and Asian Tour.
When?
A. After winning the Individual Gold Medal and the Team Event Gold in The South Asian Games 2013 February in Delhi for which I am preparing and of course other tournaments leading up to that event. What is the immediate target you have? A. If I am selected to represent Sri Lanka in the 51st Pakistan Amateur Golf Championship to be played in Lahore in April, I would like to win it for my country. Do you like to say anything else? A. I like to thank my family and all the members of RCGC and my friends for helping me achieve success.
Final results of the 7th Delhi NCR Cup 2012 played at the Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi, India 6th to 9th March 2012:
Winner – N.thangaraja (Sri Lanka) 283(72,68,68,75); Joint 2nd – Honey Baisoya (India) 285- (73,63,74,75); Jasjeet Singh (India) 285- (74,68,68,75); 4th place – Shubanka Sharma (India) 287- (74,75,70,68); 5th place – Angad Cheema (India) 289- (73,71,71,74)