Mountain Hawk Express (Pvt) Ltd, licensee of Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) is the sponsor for this year’s tournament.

The event is expected to attract a large number of golfers from both the AmCham corporate and RCGC membership. The tournament will be played to an individual Stableford format with each competitor having the opportunity to purchase upto (or a maximum of) 4 Mulligans.

Traditionally, part proceeds of the annual AmCham Golf Tournament were donated towards a nominated charity. This year’s event will support the basic infrastructure, IT and sanitation facilities to Glenanore School in Haputale under the theme “AmCham Gives Back!”

Mountain Hawk Express, CEO, Sanjeeva Abeygoonewardena said “we are pleased to partner with AmCham Sri Lanka as the exclusive partner for the AmCham-FedEx Golf Tournament 2016 to contribute to the development of golf in Sri Lanka.”

A statement from the PGA Tour said the tournament would feature teams from 28 different countries when it is held at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne from November 21-27.
This year’s tournament will carry an $8 million purse with the winning duo splitting $2.56 million.
“The World Cup of Golf has a long and storied history as one of the true international events in our sport,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

“On behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, we are thrilled that a course with the reputation and standing such as Kingston Heath will serve as the tournament’s host venue in 2016.”
The last World Cup of Golf in 2013 was primarily an individual tournament, with a 60-player field featuring two players from each country participating in 72 holes of stroke play.
Jason Day won the individual title for Australia, while Day and Adam Scott won the team portion for the best aggregate score.

Prashan Peiris came up with a good last round score of 76, playing 20 over par over the three rounds to emerge runner-up.

Dilshan also won the age group category in the Gold Division (15-17 years) with a total score of 225 with Peiris being placed second with 233. They were closely followed by T. Akash and Dhana Ranjan from Kandy, both with a total score of 234 to finish in third and fourth places respectively.

In the Silver Division (age group category 12-14 years) playing 18 holes, Taniya Balasuriya and Vinod Weerasinghe battled it out for top honours. However the superb play by Tania helped her to win by one shot in a closely contested final round. Settling for second position was Vinod Weerasinghe and these fine junior golfers are expected to display much maturity in time to come. The third and fourth places went to Dilshan Malinda and Kayla Perera with aggregate scores of 253 and 265 respectively.

The Bronze Division (age group category 10-11 years) playing 13 holes saw Nigel Fernando from U.S.A win comfortably with a total score of 173. He was followed by Yannik Kumara who improved on the third day but had to be satisfied with second position with a total score of 186. The youngster K Danushan Kumara playing for the first time in this age group category showed much promise to secure third position with total score of 198 and Levon Niyarepola on total score of 201 came fourth. Keen contest was showcased in this category on the final day and juniors who showed promise were Sherin Balasuriya, Tienn Kapilasena and Chethana Perera.

The event was conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union and sponsored by Prima Sunrise Bread. Tan Ben Chuan – Group General Manager – Prima Group Sri Lanka and Shun Tien Shing – General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries promotors of Prima Sunrise Bread gave away the main awards

The age group category prizes were given by Sajith Gunaratne – Senior Business Manager & Marketing Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries Prima Group, Nimal Piyaratne – President of the Sri Lanka Golf Union and Ranil Peiris – Captain of the Royal Colombo Golf. Nandasena Perera, Sri Lanka’s only Asian Games silver medalist was present as a special guest.

Results

Gold Division (Age Group 15 – 17yrs)

1. J. K. Januka Dilshan (225), 2. Prashan Peiris (233), 3. T. Akash (234), 4. G. DhanaRanjan (234)

Silver Division (Age Group 12 – 14yrs)

1. Taniya Balasuriya (235), 2.Vinod Weerasinghe (236), 3. Dilshan Malinda (253), 4. Kayla Perera (265)

Bronze Division (Age Group 10 – 11yrs)

1. Nigel Fernando (173), 2.Yannik Kumara (186), 3.K. Danushan (198), 4.Levon Niyarepola (201), 5. Sherin Balasuriya (219)

Copper Division (Age Group 9 & under)

1.Nirehk Tejwani (92), 2. Shanal Binuksha (100), 3.Pranav Muralidaran (109), 4.Yun Gu Kang (111), 5. Shenuk Fernando (118)

Witchayanon Chothirungren won the men’s crown while A. Yubol bagged the women’s crown.

Witchayanon defeated Indian golfer Samarth Dwivedi in a closely contested 36-hole final to win two up while Yubol overcame her Indian opponent R. Dwivedi 7/6 in the women’s final.

The only Sri Lankan to impress was Sisira Kumara when he won the Timothy de Silva Trophy for the best two days aggregate score. The Timothy de Silva trophy is given in memory of the first Ceylonese winner of the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship in 1927.

The International Team event for the Palakamedi Trophy was also won by Thailand teams in both men’s and women’s categories. In the men’s event Thailand beat Pakistan while in the ladies they defeated India. Kayla Perera won the women’s handicap event played for the F.B. De Mel Trophy as she beat Louise Parsons two up. AA

The 104th Shakspeare Shield Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday 05 July 2015 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

This unique tournament brings together two prestigious institutions – the Carson Cumberbatch Group which sponsors it, and the Royal Colombo Golf Club, both of which have a rich history dating back over one hundred years.

The format of the tournament has been changed this year to make it a one-day event and thereby more exciting and attracting greater spectator involvement and interest.

The Shakspeare Shield Golf Tournament is named after W. Shakespeare, former Chairman of Carsons who was elected to the Committee in 1908.

He initiated the first ‘Foursomes Competition’ exclusively for private companies, banks and state institutions. The Shakspeare Shield was initiated in his honour in 1911 and has been an annual event sponsored by Carsons from 1911 to date.

The Shakspeare Shield Golf Tournament goes on record as being the oldest corporate competition registered on the Board of RCGC Competitions.

It is also the only tournament open to RCGC members who are employees and/or Directors of registered companies, embassies, government departments and service organisations. The Carson Cumberbatch Group is a diversified conglomerate with businesses spanning across Sri Lanka and the South and South East Asian region.

The Group’s diverse business interests range from the over one hundred year old Lion Brewery to Oil Palm Plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia, Investment Portfolio Management, Real Estate and Leisure in Sri Lanka.

Shamara Wettimuny daughter of cricketing legend Sidath Wettimuny probably took to golf not very long ago as her handicap indicates. She plays most of her golf at the Victoria Golf Course which is no ordinary golf course most challenging and exciting and ideal opener for a new comer.

If one can come to terms with this golf course, the other will be a mere formality.

The first time we heard of Shamara Wettimuny was at the international golf event of Sri Lankan Airline golf classics 2014 towards the end of last year where she did exceptionally well on the first day to lead Nett event for ladies.

Though she did not win a trophy she held a lot of promise for a future.

Studies took her away from golf for sometime. She made her appearance at Victoria at UAE – Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship 2015 when she stunned the championship by winning the overall championship and the main trophy with a Nett score of 36.

Her’s was an incredible performance for a little girl who was new to the scene. Despite some top golfers and the challenging nature of the Victoria Golf Course, she held her nerves to emerge winner.

The Wettimuny’s are always shy of publicity and they hardly speak of about themselves. Shamara Wettimuny is no different.

The Wettimuny’s have lit up local cricketing scene first it was Mithra followed by Sunil and Sidath. Nimal was there but he did not reach up to the standards of his three elder brothers who all represented Sri Lanka schools and Sidath turned out to be a run getting prodigy for Sri Lanka with an epic knock of 194 against England at Lords which then the highest individual Test score by a Sri Lankan in a Test match. But soon after he retired from Test cricket for reasons best known when he had may more cricketing years left in him.

He was affectionately known as ‘Lord Sid’ probably because of his record breaking knock at the ‘Mecca of Cricket’ Lords Cricket Ground presently he is the Chairman of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Having built up a home for himself a ‘stones throw’ from the Victoria Golf Course, Sidath took up to golf and has put up some impressive performances by winning prestigious championships.

His son Sanjay too is a good golfer winning many junior tournaments before studies took him to America and the golfing scene briefly lost a blossoming golfer.

He left not before he battled out his father Sidath in the finals of the Donald Steel Golf Championship and the result was experience triumphed over youth.

Next to take to golf the youngest in the family Nimal who too has come up with some impressive performances both at Victoria and Colombo where he had failed in cricket he is making up at golf.

New little Shamara has entered the scene and we will hear of her a lot in the future throwing a big challenge to the seasoned golfers and her handicap will be slashed.

– See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/shamara-going-great-guns-golf#sthash.t6GCGm5j.dpuf

Nimal Wettimuny emerged the winner of the A division in the May Monthly Medal golf tournament held at the Ridgeways course on Saturday 9th May and sponsored by Nawaloka Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd and New Ashford International under Nawaloka Holdings.
Wettimuny was able to achieve an impressive score of nett 70 in this top division for golfers in the handicap group of 0 to 9. Although the conditions were heavy with persistent drizzle coming down he played consistently well.

Kris Krishnarajah was the runner-up with a nett score of 70 but fell behind Wettimuny on the back nine holes.

Wettimuny was also able to win the gross score event as well with a score of gross 75.
Manoj Algama emerged the winners in the B division category with a nett score of 65. Arvind Fernando was the runner-up with a score of nett 68.
Algama also won the gross score event with a score of 77.

Full results:
Division A – (Handicap 0 to 9) Nett
Winner – Nimal Wettimuny 70 Nett
Runner up – Kris Krishnarajah 70 Nett
Division A – Gross
Winner – Nimal Wettimuny 75 gross
Division B – Handicap 10 to 18 Nett
Winner – Manoj Algama 65 Nett
Runner up – Aravind Fernando 68 Nett
Division B – Gross
Winner – Manoj Algama 77 Gross
Division C – Handicap 19 to 28 Nett
Winner – John Head Rapson 71 Nett B/B 9
Runner up – Roshan Makalanda 71 Nett
Division C – Gross
Winner – John Head Rapson 90 Gross
Seniors Division
Winner – Kan Butani 68 Nett
Runner up – Dr C. Thurairaja 69 Nett
Gross winner – Dr C. Thurairaja 77 Gross
Masters Division
Winner – Ranjit Perera 73 Nett
Runner up – Kumar Boralessa 76 Nett
Gross score winner – Ranjit Perera 85 Gross
Sri Lanka Squad Players
Winner – Sisira Kumara 71 Gross B/B 9
Runner up – Nuwan Ranga 71 Gross
1st Runner up – M Arumugam 72 Gross B/B 9

Following article is for the benefit of those people who may not have been exposed to the game of golf, yet interested to have a basic understanding of the game so that they can enjoy reading newspaper articles, books on the game, results of various championships and of great players in the history of golf.

I will not claim to be an expert on the subject of golf nor would I claim to be a very good golfer but having played the game for the past 40 years I feel that I am sufficiently qualified to jot down a few notes for the benefit of others who are, possibly, interested to know more about the the game of golf.

Golf is essentially an individual sport but team events have erupted over the years of which Ryder Cup which is been played every two years between the U S A and Europe is, by far, the most popular golf team event in the world. International events such as one country playing against  another are not as popular as in other sports.

Golf has two main governing bodies responsible for the rules of golf. R&A rules Limited based at St Andrews in Scotland and the United States Golf Association. These two establishments discuss and agree on all rules prior to publication so that every rule is uniform throughout the world.

Golf terminology is somewhat unique and has been developed over a many number of years. Some of these terms are used by golfers when ever they play a round of golf. Following terms and explanations are for the benefit if the reader.

GOLF COURSE:  This is an area where the game is played. A full size golf course should have 18 holes of varying lengths.
TEEING GROUND: This area is where a player plays his first shot on any particular hole. Player may place the ball on a tee peg for his first shot. Once the player makes a stroke at the ball he/she is deemed to have put the ball into play even if he/she misses the ball altogether and will count as one stroke. His/Her next shot whether from the same spot or from elsewhere will count as the 2nd stroke.
CLUBS:  These are the sticks with which a player strike the ball. The heads ( striking area) are made of either metal or wood with varying lofts to control the flight of the ball and the distance. A player may carry a maximum of 14 clubs in his bag during a round of golf.
BALL:  Weighs 1.620 ounces and 1.680 inches in diameter.
THE GREEN: Is a very closely- mown area where the flag is situated in the hole. To complete any one hole the player must put the ball into the hole with a club.
THE PUTTER: is a flat faced club usually used once a players ball has reached the green.
THE FAIRWAY: is a closely-mown area between the Teeing Ground and the Green.
BUNKER: is a hole in the ground, usually man made but not necessarily, filled with sand. A player is not permitted to ground his club in a bunker before a stroke is made.
WATER HAZARDS:  These areas may or may not contain water but they are clearly marked areas where a ball may be lost or may not be easily recoverable. Player is not permitted to ground the club in a water hazard. There are rules applicable to take relief from a water hazard whether the ball is found or not.
PAR:  is the number or strokes a very good player is expected take to complete any one hole. A par 3 hole is usually less than 240 yards in length it can be longer. A par 4 is longer and a par 5 is even longer all depends on the course design and the contours of the course. Par for the course is the total number of pars for all 18 holes.
STROKE INDEX:  is based on the difficulty of any particular hole. The most difficult hole on the course is Stroke Index 1 and the easiest hole
will be Stroke Index 18 and the others in between are given a Stroke Index depending on the element of difficulty.
SCORE CARD:  will have the holes numbered 1 to 18  giving the lengths of each hole, par for the hole and the stroke index and a space to write the players score.
STROKE PLAY: total number of strokes taken by a player to complete all 18 holes and the winner is the one who completes the course in the least number of strokes.

More about other forms of play will be published in future articles.

S. Kasturiratne