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| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
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Amrith 11th at Junior World Golf C'ships by Lal Gunesekera Seventeen-year-old Amrith de Soysa, who plays off a scratch handicap, fared very well at the Junior World Golf Championships, in Santiago, USA finishing 11th out of 240 players in the under-19 age group with a 8-over par in the four rounds at the 7,400 yard long Torrey Pines Course where the 2008 US Open is to be worked off. The Junior World is the single biggest golf tournament in the world where over 1200 players competed. De Soysa had the great satisfaction of defeating Australia's No.2, 3 and 4, the best three from New Zealand and the best two from England too. However, he was beaten by the two players from the USA. The tournament was won by the Australian No.1 with a 6 under par, while an American was second with two Thais occupying the third and fourth places. De Soysa, who left for the USA in January last year (2003), has one more year of High School in Florida remaining where he attends the famous David Leedbetter Gold Academy, and hopes to get a scholarship into University next year. He plays six-and-a-half hours a day in a six day week, and has been faring pretty well in various junior tournaments in New Orleans, Texas, Florida, Chicago, Arizona and California. De Soysa, who gets back to Florida on September 5, says that it is a very good experience and his game has improved tremendously after going to the USA. He told the `Sunday Observer' that he plans to do a degree in Professional Golf Management, and after his University career, is very keen on turning a professional failing which to manage a golf resort in either Singapore or Malaysia. Someday I will return to Sri Lanka and market golf. There is so much of talent among the caddies, but they have no opportunity to prove themselves", he said. De Soysa, besides thanking his parents, also said that he was greatful to the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) and Ana Punchihewa in particular. He also paid tribute to his coach in the USA, Tim Sheredy, and Pheroze Billimoria who coached him initially and taught him the basics which had helped him in the long run. Before leaving for the USA, Amrith de Soysa, who was a student at the Colombo International School (CIS), won the RCGC Championships in 2002 at the age of 15 years (the youngest to win the tittle) and also the All-India Junior in Calcutta in 2002, while finishing second at the British Junior in 2003. He has won about 19 tournaments since taking to the sport five years back. BINUPA IMPRESSES Another junior who is faring pretty well is 14-year-old Binupa Wijesinghe who plays off a handicap of 5. At the 6th Junior Open in Scotland last month (July), Binupa, who was playing in the Silver Division (under-16 for those with handicaps between 4 and 9), finished 21st out of 33 players after tying for third place on the first day, but rain and windy conditions messed things up for him. Players from 45 countries took part. Wijesinghe had private lessons in London for two to three weeks before returning to Colombo. He plays regularly at the Monthly Medals at Victoria Golf Club where he even won the Lectra Grand Prix, but plays regularly at the RCGC too. He is a student at Wycherly International School. Since taking to the game in 2001, young Binupa Wijesinghe, was third at the Singapore Junior Open (under-16 category) this year, while finishing second at the Pakistan Junior Open too. Then both in 2002 and 2003, he was 10th at the Indian Junior (under-14 category) at Bangalore and New Delhi respectively. He says he was encouraged by his parents, particularly by his mother Samanthi, who is a former national badminton champion, and Anura Binupa also thanked Ana Punchihewa, Shiran de Soysa, Ms. Radha Sunderampillai and Dyan Abeywardene for helping him in his career. ANURA ROHANA FOR CHINA OPEN Sri Lanka's professional, Anura Rohana, who finished on top at the `Q' School in India, leaves for Beijing tomorrow (Monday) morning to play in the China Open from August 19 to 22. Over 100 professionals are scheduled to tee off. The top 60 from China will then qualify to play in the South Korean Open next month (September). LANKAN WOMEN WIN SAARC TITLE Sri Lanka, represented by Jackie Dias (169) and Kishani Vethavinayagam (181), won the South Asian Association of Regional Co-Operation (SAARC) Women's Golf Championships held for the first time in Lahore, Pakistan. Hosts Pakistan were second with Nepal finishing third. India were disqualified. Sri Lanka's men - Lalith Kumara, Tissa Chandradasa and K. Prabhakaran fared disastrously and were placed fourth behind Pakistan, India and Bangaladesh in the Men's Championships. Play on the first day was washed out due to heavy rain, while on the second and third days, matches were played over 27 and 18 holes respectively. "NUG" Silva, who managed the Sri Lankan contingent, said that the 7th SAARC Championships will be staged in Colombo in January next year (2005). |
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