Sachin - wonderful climb in achieving success

By A. C. De Silva

GOLF: Derna Beling is a name that has stood out in the sporting field of Sri Lanka (or Ceylon as we were known then) for a long, long time. Athletics, netball, golf and cycling used to be her pet sports and she really excelled in them. Now sports have gone down the family cycle and now there is a third generation golfer of the clan and he is Sachin de Silva - the 14 year-old.

Sachin's favourite sport is badminton, but it is in golf - the sport that runs down the family, that he has come off with flying colours. Sachin's parents - Anel and Usha de Silva are both good golfers and it is no wonder that he also took to golf in a big way.

It has been golf in the family circle that has pushed Sachin forward in this sport and he took to golf in a big way from the tender age of five years. He started his golfing career under the supervision of Sri Lanka's legend Nandasena Perera and with the necessary family push, there were no problems at all for his progress. At the age of 7 years he was at Nike Golf Camp in Los Angeles, then at 9 he was with David Lead Better School of Golf in Singapore and from then onwards it has been a tremendous push forward in the sport.

The achievements that this young boy - Sachin de Silva has obtained can well fill a book with the many successes that he has gained. In 2006 at the tender age of 10 years he obtained a Gentlemen's Handicap of 28 from the Royal Colombo Golf Club, but before that he has obtained many successes. 2003 he participated in the Ole Apple Junior Grand Prix tournament conducted by the junior section of the RCGC. From 2004, it has been a dream run of victories in the sport.

Sachin's progress

2004: Winner of the Novices and Junior Tournament (11 years and under. 2005: Winner of Milo Junior Open Stableford Competition (10 and under) held at Victoria Golf Club, Digana, Kandy. He also won the Junior Strokeplay competition (10 and under category) conducted by the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and he came out winner again in the Nett Division of the Milo Sri Lanka Junior Open Championship (11 to 15 years) held at the RCGC.

Being a keen and eager young player and with the family backing, young Sachin climbed the ladder of success. In 2006, he won the Bronze Division (11 and under category) in the Milo Junior Open Tournament conducted by Victoria Golf Club. Came 2007 and he pushed forward and in April that year at the age of 11 years, he was able to reduce the handicap to 18 and then in August, he was the winnde of the Victoria Golf Club Junior Open Silver Division (11 and under category). The following year - 2008, he was able to reduce the handicap to 13 from 18. Came 2009 and playing off handicap 13, he won the President's Cup presented by Ferrin Careem - that was in January and in March playing off handicap of 12, he won the Captains Cup presented by Tissa Jayasinghe.

At 13 years, Sachin de Silva created history in the 130-year-old RCGC and became the youngest golfer to win the prestigious President's and Captain's Cup in the same year. In August he was in Malaysia and played in the Malaysian Junior Open and in November that year, he was selected by Sri Lanka Golf Union to represent Sri Lanka at the World Junior Golf Championships in Thailand.

Fine achievement

Being keen and willing to follow advice of his superiors, young Sachin de Silva crowned himself with glory when in December 2009 he was able to dethrone the winner of the 2008 Junior Golf Champion and was the winner of the Silver Division (11 to 14 year category).

Came January this year and it was quite touching to see a father and son winning a tournament. Dad Anel de Silva and his young son Sachin won the the Sir Ernest Fernando Championship Trophy and earlier this month. Sachin was nominated by the Sri Lanka Golf Union to participate at the Junior Open Golf Championship to be held in Fife, Scotland from July 12 to 14.

As Sachin's handicap has now dropped to 6, he will be participating in the Silver Division which is for players of handicap 4-9.

With his selection to represent Sri Lanka at the Junior Golf Open Championship in Fife, Scotland, another record has been established among the juniors. Sachin's cousin - Dhanushi Senadhira at the age of 15 represented Sri Lanka at the Junior Open Golf Championships in Heswall, England from July 17 to 19 in 2006.