Sanjeewa cuts a niche for himself
Leads annual ranking Pin Fernando Grand Prix 2017
The Pin Fernando Grand Prix, sponsored by United Tractor & Equipment Pvt Ltd (UTE), moves into second quarter after completing the April edition of the 12 month annual amateur golf ranking conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union sees B.A. Sanjeewa setting his own pace.
N. Amarapadma, having won the January round, couldn’t maintain his lead as B A Sanjeewa hit a winning streak in the following editions which were held in February, March and April and leads the Grand Prix standings with an aggregate of 1866 points. N. Amarapadma, slipped to 2nd Position with an aggregate of 1759 points having held the runner up slot twice in February and April and placed 3rd in March. A youngster with potential M H Chalitha Pushpika who is improving consistently is in 3rdposition with 1329 points closely followed by experienced Navinda Ranga with 1320 points. Another youngster with potential M. U. Chanaka Perera completes the top 5 of the Pin Fernando Grand Prix with1259 points.
The Sri Lanka Golf Union conducted Grand Prix is the platform to develop and promote the Sri Lankan Amateur Golfers who earn World Amateur Golf Ranking, with points accumulated from this monthly CAT SOLAR powered Grand Prix results.
The May edition is scheduled to be played from 2nd to 5th May 2017 at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club. The May Monthly edition will also serve as trials to select the Sri Lanka national golf team for the up-coming 130th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship, scheduled from May 22 – 28, 2017, also at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.
The Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship the 2nd oldest National Amateur Golf Championship in the world (next to the British Amateur Championship) will be played for the 130th occasion and Sri Lanka Golf Union will host regular visitors India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Thailand Men’s and Women’s teams for the upcoming championship.
The International flavour with the reigning Champions from Thailand back to defend the Men’s and Women’s titles will be closely fought with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the local challenge of in- form Sanjeewa, Amarapadma, Indika, Ranga, Pradeep Kumara, Chalitha Pushpika, M U Chanaka Pe rera, Av i n e s h Nareshkumar, Sachin de Silva could make the 2017 renewal a real challenge. Top Sri Lankan youngsters playing serious Golf overseas Kyle De Silva, Ishira Fernando and Zaffar Sikkander too could make an impact if they do make the trip for the Championship. Local Amateur youngsters Armand Flamer Caldera, Prashan Peiris, T. Akash, Lamindu Rainika, Januka Dikshan and Dubai based Dinesh Kumar ( NEGC Local youngster) too can add to the tremendous interest in the 130th Sri Lanka National Amateur Golf Championship. The last Sri Lankan to win the Sri Lanka Amateur is Thangaraja in 2013 and it is about time a Sri Lankan won the Title again.
Cat solar Pin Fernando grand prix 2017 ‘ top 10’ after round 4 of 12 rounds: B A Sanjeewa – 1866, N. Amarapadma- 1759, M. H Chalitha Pushpika – 1329, Navinda Ranga-1320, M. U. Chanaka Perera– 1259, D. M. Pradeep Bandara- 1146, G M Pradeep Kumara- 1042, R. Sureshan- 975, Lamindu Rainika– 904, Saman Rupasinghe848.