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| Sunday, 20 October 2002 |
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Ranil Pathirane takes Pin Fernando Trophy in a thriller by LAL GUNASEKERA A surge at the start, then a stutter, followed by a scramble to the finish line. This is what the Pin Fernando Trophy turned out to be at the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) last week. Ranil Pathirane won the title for the first occasion when he beat veteran Sarath Wickremaratne (twice winner and runner-up on four occasions) in the final. This event was sponsored by United Tractor for the second year. Wickremaratne, with an admirable handicap of 7, was the favourite, despite having to concede four strokes to his more youthful and less experienced opponent who was playing in his first major final. The weather gods smiled and Pathirane got off to a dream start by winning the first four holes. Little did he realise how quickly that lead could be whittled down and by the time he got to the 12th tee, Wickremaratne, had edged to the front 1-up. With six more holes to go, Wicrkremaratne, looked set to pull it off for his third title, but a wayward drive, a missed putt and a branch which got in the way of his swing, saw him conceding the lead once again. Any chance of pulling it back was cut off by some steady drives, chips and putts by Pathirane who showed that he had the nerves and the temperament to make full use of his strokes and put in his names on the board as a winner of this prestigious event. The awards ceremony took place in the evening where Mrs. Pam Fernando, who holds the record as the oldest woman to win a National Championship in the Guinness Book of Records, gave away the awards. |
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