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| Sunday, 9 May 2004 |
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Thiru reverts to amateur status to help country produce more champion golfers by LAL GUNESEKERA A former Sri Lanka national amateur champion and the country's very first professional golfer, Tiru Jesudasan (nee Fernando) has reverted back to amateur status as she is determined to help the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) produce more champions. Tiru also told the Sunday Observer that the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) has produced only a few champion golfers, including her late father Pin and herself, apart from Nandasena Perera, Anura Rohana, Lalith Kumara and Thuhashini Selvaratnam, but she felt that she should help the country produce more top golfers. She got her amateur status back two months ago from the SLGU and has been playing in the Monthly Medal events. Having married Pastor John Jesudasan, they paster the Zion Christian Community Centre in Polhengoda. She said: "Wednesdays I keep myself free to play golf and help with SLGU's Sub-Committee on coaching," which also includes Shiran de Soysa, Ana Punchihewa, Dyan Abeyewardene and Tiru's brother Priya. An old girl of Bishop's College, Tiru, won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championships on four occasions (1971, 1973, 1974, 1975), Indian Amateur title too, on four occasions (1973, 1974, 1975, 1980), Thailand Amateur title in 1980, Indonesian Amateur title in 1975, Selenger Amateur title in Malaysia in 1978, whilst being third at the British Amateur Stroke-Play Championship in 1976. She graduated with a degree in Physical Education from the Brigham Young University in the USA, and was the Utah State Amateur Championship in 1977 and 1978. Tiru turned professional in 1980 and fared pretty well in USA, European and Asian Circuits, but quit as a pro in 1992. During this period (1980 to 1992), she was 11th in the European Circuit in 1980 and 24th on the Asian Circuit in 1987. She was runner-up at the Singapore Open in 1984, sixth at the British Open in 1986, 11th at the Ford Ladies Classic also in 1986, 11th at the Trust House Forte in Cologne, Germany again in 1986, while in 1987 and she again 11th at the British Olivetti Championship at Moore Hall. Tiru was 45th out of 100 professionals in the order of merit on the European Circuit and in the top 30s in 1988. Tiru's late father, Pin, won the Sri Lanka Amateur Title on 10 occasions and the Indian Amateur title twice, while mother Pam, won the Sri Lanka Amateur Women's Title on five occasions and got her name engraved in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest woman to win a national title at 57 years. Brother, Priya who is the Chairman of United Tractor and Equipment Limited, was the runner-up on a few occasions at the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship, while elder sister Druki, too was a keen golfer. |
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