Thurstan keen to retain Naomal Fernando Challenge Trophy
Brig. Nanda Hathurusinghe (Captain), Ravi Liyanage, Anura Somaratne, Anura Wimalaratne, Mervin Preena, Manjula Lanarolle, Sooriya Perera, Majid Awn, Rohana Vithanachichi, Nihal Wickremanayake, Nishantha Perera, Laki Wickremasinghe, Neroy Marso, Himal Randima.
The annual golfing contest between the old boys’ golf teams of Thurstan and Isipathana colleges will be held for the fourth consecutive year at the Royal Colombo Golf Course (RCGC) on March 14.
The tournament is played for the Naomal Fernando Challenge Trophy, donated by the distinguished old boy of Isipathana, Naomal, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of JFI Printers and Packaging Ltd.
The inaugural encounter was held in 2018 at the RCGC with ten golfers teeing off from each team with Anura Somaratne leading Isipathana. In 2019 and 2020 Isipathana teams were led by Mervin Preena and Ravi Liyanage respectively. The tally now stands in favour of Thurstan, who have won it twice and Isipathana with one win.
The overall winners will receive the Naomal Fernando Championship Trophy decided from cumulative stableford points from four best cards from each team.
Milinda Ratnayake (Captain), Harendra de Silva, Luksman Sumathipala, Pandula Kuruppu, Major General Rukmal Dias, Noel Joseph, Dr. Surath Wickremasinghe, Sumedha Amerasinghe, Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Chaminda Prabath, Sriyan Gurusinghe, Chamikara Wijesinghe.
The challenge trophy for the best golfer was donated by another distinguish Isipathana old boy Jehan Ariffof, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Macson Mesh (Pvt.) Ltd, and the winner is decided from highest points obtained as per stableford points. Other awards on offer are for the best player on gross points obtained, best player on nett points obtained, longest drive on the 8th hole and the closest to the pin on the 9th hole.
Both teams comprise of quality golfers with Thurstan College led by Milinda Ratnayake with key players Harendra de Silva, Chamikara Wijesinghe and Sriyan Gurusinghe in the side. Isipathana College too have stars like Ravi Liyanage, Anura Somaratne, Nanda Hathurusinghe and Mervin Preena in their ranks.
Incidentally Isipathana College holds the distinction of winning the All-Island Inter-School Golf Tournament organised by the D.S. Senanayake College OBA with main sponsorship coming from DFCC Bank and Ole Springs last held in 2018.
The Tournament Management Committee consists of Anura Serasingha and Silvatha Ekanayake.