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| Sunday, 23 May 2004 |
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Lalith Kumara and Anura Rohana for 'Qualifying School' in Malaysia by Lal Gunesekera The reigning Pakistan, India and Bangladesh amateur golf champion Lalith Kumara, who is very keen on playing on the Professional Circuit, is to attend the "Qualifying School" in Malaysia next month, and if he does well and qualify, will figure in the Asian Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour. He will attend the "Qualifying School" from June 10 to 20, and if he does qualify, his first tournament as professional will be in July. Anura Rohana, who finished 96th out of over 200 professionals on the APGA Tour last year (2003), was only 33rd out of 157 with 4 over at the Indian Open in Delhi and failed to make the 'cut' in Macao earlier this year. Thus, the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU), is sending Rohana too, along with Lalith Kumara to the "Qualifying School" in Malaysia again. A spokesman for the SLGU told the Sunday Observer that this is Rohana's "last chance" to prove himself, but where Lalith Kumara is concerned, he is a more dedicated and determined player who should fare well. Another top sri Lankan amateur Tissa Chandradasa, too is back in the country after a short stint in Dubai, and will continue to be an amateur. Hero Honda trophy The Sri Lankan 'leg' of the Indian Hero Honda Professional Golf Tour will be worked off on the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) from September 23 to 26 where the total prize money on offer will be Rs. 4 million. SLGU spokesman said that they have yet to find a sponsor. He said: "The total cost in conducting this event in Sri Lanka is Rs. 10 million and we have left it in the hands of a marketing company to find the sponsor/sponsors. We have our expenses like the compensation payable to the RCGC for loss of revenue, Tiger Sports Marketing of India who are organising the Tour with the Indian Professional Golf Association (IPGA) have to be paid part of their expenses together with live TV coverage etc. There will be 100 Indian professionals who will play in Colombo, while the SLGU have been permitted to invite up to 40 players, and they are targeting players from Pakistan, Malaysia and even some high profile players from the APGA Tour and Sri Lanka too. Binupa Wijesinghe (son of former national badminton champion Samanthi Hettiaratchi) and Kisani Vethanayagam have been picked to play in the under-16 age group at the World Junior Championship to be staged in Scotland in July, while two junior boys too are to be selected after trials next week to play in the Singapore Junior Championship next month. |
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