ISLAMABAD: (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka celebrated a triumphant return to golf glory after a prolonged period, securing victory in the JR Jayewardene Trophy at the Smart City 63rd National Amateur Golf Championship international team match, organized by the Pakistan Golf Federation. The thrilling competition took place at Margalla Greens Golf Club in Islamabad, where Sri Lanka faced off against two Pakistani golf teams.
Uchitha Ranasinghe of Royal Colombo Golf Club and Chalitha Pushpika of Sri Lanka Navy, carding a joint score of 148 with outstanding rounds of 74 each on the challenging 71-par course. Their impressive performance propelled Sri Lanka to the top of the leaderboard, surpassing both Pakistani teams ‘A’ and ‘B’ on the day one.
In the opening round of the 18-hole JR Jayewardene Trophy, Ranasinghe and Pushpika trailed the leaders by just one shot. Among the formidable competitors of Pakistan were Nouman Ilyas, Abdullah Ansar Raja, Ralphe Aslam Raja, and Shahazeb Jahan, comprising a field of 95 more international competitors.
The Pakistani ‘A’ team, led by Qaism Ali Khan and Salman Jehangi, posted a total gross of 150, falling short by two shots against Sri Lanka’s impressive performance. Similarly, the host country’s ‘B’ team, featuring Arsalan Shikoh Khan and Nouman Ilyas, recorded a total gross of 159.
The JR Jayewardene Trophy holds special significance, initiated by Sri Lanka’s first Executive President, the late JR Jayewardene, to foster friendly competition between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the sport of golf. The tournament alternates between the two countries’ national championships, with Sri Lanka hosting the Zia-ul-Haq Trophy and Pakistan hosting the JR Jayewardene Trophy, starting from the tenure of both famous rulers of two countries of 1978-1989.
This year, as Pakistan hosts its 63rd national amateur championship, the opening day was dedicated to the JR Jayewardene Trophy. Conversely, Sri Lanka will host its 133rd national amateur championship in November, with the opening day dedicated to awarding the Zia-ul-Haq Trophy to the deserving winners.
