A bag full of money for those with kit full of skill
Over 125 golfers including top professionals from the local and foreign circuits will be in action on their hunt for the prestigious Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open 2014 title where a total cash reward of Rs. Two Million is packed for delivery.
Golf diplomacy - No differences on field- Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. Qasim Qureshi tees off at the RCGC yesterday while the Indian High Commissioner Y.K.Sinha looks on. Pic by Amila Gamage
The prize money, double than last year’s cash award collectively, will be on offer for the top 40 finishers of the four-day competition which begins on Tuesday and ends on Friday at the Royal Colombo Golf Course in Colombo.
“This year’s Sri Lanka Open will be of new dimension with the addition of the Pro-Am tournament. With all in place we are expecting the tournament to be more competitive and involved,” stated the president of Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU), Lal Dias.
Seven-time winner Anura Rohana, N. Thangarajah, K. Prabaharan the defending champion, Vijitha Bandara, Lalith Kumara, Tissa Chandradasa and M. Amarapadma a previous winner, face the starter to complete an outstanding field of professional golfers lined up to make the Sri Lanka Open a sensational event offering the highest prize money ever for a Sri Lankan Open since its inception.
The Amateur challenge is expected to be led by Amrith de Soysa, Ruci Captain, Arumugam, Sisira Kumara, Alain Gyi, youngsters Prashan Peiris, Ishira Fernando with the possible inclusion of Kyle de Siva, Sachin de Silva and Zaffar Sikkander all of whom are studying overseas who may make the trip for this important event. N. Ranga the latest amateur to turn professional, the RCGC Pro Jehan de Saram and the veteran seven-time champion, the legendary Nandasena Perera too are likely to tee off to add further glamour to the event.
Sri Lankan Zen Dharmaratne, ranked 29th in the Malaysian Pro Golf Tour in 2014 will also throw down his challenge to participate alongside Mithun Perera, the Sri Lankan star of 2014 finishing the Asian Tour ranked within the Top 40 to earn himself a full Asian Tour Card and invitational slots to play in the European Tour.
“Usually the Sri Lanka Open is played at the beginning of the following year as all our professional players are engaged in the Indian Pro Circuit. Without them the whole purpose of boasting of Sri Lankan talent is lost. Sri Lanka Open is one cycle where the interest of all players increases. This year there will be five Indians playing in the Indian Open and three of them are among the Top 10. In addition the cut-off prize money is on offer for the top 40 and those who are between 35 and 40 will get a minimum cash award of Rs. 6000 while the winner is guaranteed with a handsome prize money of Rs. 400,000,” said tournament director of SLGU, Dian Abeywardene.
The Pro-Am will be played from today preceding the Sri Lanka Open in a shot-gun format providing an opportunity for all the amateur members to play with the professionals. Team and individual events for the Dudley Senanayake Trophy, Levers Challenge Shield, Levers Challenge Cup and RCGC Cup will be conducted by the SLGU and the special Pro-Am programme will be followed by a separate awards ceremony. A maximum of 126 players on a first come first served basis will be able to play in the Pro-Am.
UTE–CAT will sponsor the Pin Fernando Challenge Trophy for gentlemen members which will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday concurrently with the Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open while the Pam Fernando Trophy for ladies will be played on Thursday and Friday preceding the final two rounds of the main event. The pre-qualifying round will begin tomorrow to facilitate players with handicaps above 10 and other aspirant professionals to join the professional field which includes all national squad players and amateurs with single figure handicaps.
The Sri Lanka Open introduced by the SLGU in 1970, has had a wonderful journey producing multiple winners from the vicinity of the golf courses who have brought international acclaim by winning medals at the Asian Games and by performing with credit on the International Professional Circuits. The competition is held for the 44th consecutive occasion. The SLGU can be proud that currently as many as six Sri Lankan professionals are playing in the Indian Pro Golf Tour (IPGT) and two of them are also playing in the Asian Pro Golf Tour (APGT).
The Title Sponsorship from Solar Therm and the Affiliate Sponsorship by UTE CAT and CML MTD has encouraged the participation of five top players from the IPGT, to challenge the Lankan Pro’s. Cinnamon Red has come on board as the hospitality sponsor facilitating the Indian professionals.