Golf: Top Tour professionals feature in SL Open Pro-Am

The Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU), the Governing body of Golf in Sri Lanka, organized the “Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open 2014” with the Pro-Am contest, preceding the exciting Open Event which has attracted International Professionals including Indians, Bangladeshi, Swedish and Malaysian Golfers currently on the Indian, Swedish and Malaysian Pro Golf Tours.   The Pro-Am was played in the Stableford format with 90 Golfers teeing off to a ‘Shot-gun’ start.   All 18 Tee’s were lined up with excitement in the air and special draw requests for enthusiasts to play with stars, selecting their favourite Professional to play with.   Mithun Perera the leading Pro in Sri Lanka got his golfing week off to a great start shooting a Six under par 65 to win the Levers Challenge Cup for the best individual Gross score of 42 points.   Sandeep Syal from India was close on the heels of Mithun scoring 41 points to secure the Runner-up prize.   In a competitive net score contest with all 90 players playing off handicaps to provide a level playing field the best Stableford score returned was 40 points.   Chandana Weerasinghe was declared the winner of the RCGC Cup on a count-back, edging out Eion O Mahony the Runner-up and Sisira Kumara the third placed with 40 points.   The SLGU Team Events also created much interest with all the players drawn in to ‘3- member teams’ and a total of 32 teams vied for the honours.   The team comprising U.M. G. Pradeep, Chandana Weerasinghe and Sunil Udulagama won the double by clinching the Dudley Senanayake Trophy and the Levers Challenge Shield for the best team Gross &Nett score respectively.   In the special Award category Zen Dharmaratne sponsored by CML MTD blasted the longest Drive for Men down the 8th fairway whilst Niloo Jayathilaka out-drove all the ladies.   Sharon Hall over shadowed all the players including the Professionals by winning the Prize for the most accurate drive just 1’ 1” off the target line.   Lalith Kumara was the nearest to the Flag on the 9th hole winning the prize being only 1’9” from the Hole.   The Awards ceremony, fellowship and discussion followed the morning Golf and the Title Sponsors ‘Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open’, the Affiliate Sponsors UTE-CAT and CML MTD Walkers Group rallied round the Sri Lanka Golf Union supported by goodwill sponsors, Elephant House Kik – Cola, and other refreshing sponsors.   The facilitation of the Hospitality Sponsor ‘Cinnamon Red ‘ providing accommodation to the visiting International Professionals too added much value to the event.   The Pre-Qualifying round for the ‘open’ entries to join the rest of the ‘Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open ‘ field will be determined on Monday and the most awaited four rounds will commence on Tuesday, 27th January 2015.   The detailed results of the ‘Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open 2014’ Pro-Am are as follows;   Levers’ Challenge Shield - Best Team Gross Score   Winners: Total 77 points - U. M. G. Pradeep, Chandana Weerasinghe, Sunil Udulagama   Runners- Up: Total 75 points - D.M. Pradeep, Chandana Gunasekera, Andy Anderson   Dudley Senanayake Trophy - Best Team Nett Score   Winners: Total 105 points -U. M. G. Pradeep, Chandana Weerasinghe, Sunil Udulagama   Runners- up: Total 100 points – Tissa Chandradasa ,Louis Parsons, Irene Scarth (on a count-back)   Levers Challenge Cup - Best Individual Gross   Winner: Mithun Perera 42 points   Runner-up: Sandeep Syal 41 points   RCGC Cup: Best Individual Nett   Winner: Chandana Weerasinghe 40 points (Better back nine)   Runner-up: Eoin O Mahony 40 points   Longest Drive:   Men - Zen Dharmaratne   Ladies – Niloo Jayathilaka   Most Accurate Drive – Sharon Hall 1’1” off the target   Nearest to the Pin – B.G.Lalith Kumara 1’9” from the Flag