B.A. Sanjeewa stands tall
Pix by Sameera Weerasekara
Leads Annual Ranking Pin Fernando Grand Prix 2017
Going into the second quarter, after completing the May edition of the 12 month Annual Amateur Golf ranking conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union, B.A. Sanjeewa is getting ahead of the field.
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.
Amarapadma slipped to second position with an aggregate of 1759 points having held the runners-up slot twice in (February and April). A youngster with huge potential — M H Chalitha Pushpika who is improving consistently is in 3rd position with 1329 points. They are closely followed by experienced Navinda Ranga with 1320 points and M. U. Chanaka Perera 1259 points making up the top five positions.
Sanjeewa won the May Edition too, comfortably and this has further stretched his lead in the rankings, since second placed Amarapadma did not play due to ill health.
The Sri Lanka Golf Union conducted ‘CAT SOLAR- PIN FERNANDO’ 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 June edition of the CAT SOLAR PFGP 2017, is scheduled to be played from 13th – 16th June 2017 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. The June Monthly edition will be a prelude to the Sri Lanka Open 2017 due to be played in July and the revival of the RCGC Open after a lapse since 2008, too promises a busy Month of Golf for the top players.
The Pakistan Amateur Golf Championship scheduled for May, was postponed and is now rescheduled for July 6th – 9th, 2017, for which a two Member Men’s Team is expected to represent Sri Lanka.
The 130th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship, scheduled for May, was also rescheduled to October 16th-22nd, 2017 to be played at the picturesque Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.
The Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship being 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 in October 2017.
The Sri Lanka Golf Union has honoured Sri Lanka’s amateur golfing legend Pin Fernando by attaching his name to this prestigious annual Grand Prix Ranking event. It was Pin Fernando who initiated the Sri Lanka Open in 1970 mainly to give the caddies and less affluent talented golfers an opportunity to showcase their talent. Continuing this tradition, Pin son Priath initiated the Grand Prix to give them the opportunity to play in a more competitive environment regularly. Initially sponsored by his family, the Grand Prix is now proudly sponsored by his family company UTE who have been associated with the world renowned Caterpillar brand for 70 years in
Sri Lanka.
CAT SOLAR PIN FERNANDO Grand Prix 2017 ‘top 10’ after round four of 12 rounds:
1. B.A. Sanjeewa – 1866 points
2. N. Amarapadma – 1759 points
3. M. H Chalitha Pushpika – 1329 points
4. Navinda Ranga – 1320 points
5. M.U. Chanaka Perera – 1259 points
6. D. M. Pradeep Bandara – 1146 points
7. G M Pradeep Kumara – 1042 points
8. R. Sureshan – 975 points
9. Lamindu Rainika – 904 points
10 . Saman Rupasinghe – 848 points