Thangaraja wins Pakistan National Amateur golf title

Sri Lankan golfers, N. Thangaraja and N. Ranga brought honour to Sri Lanka by performing top class golf at the 51st Pakistan Amateur Golf Championship which concluded on a grand note at the par 72 Royal Palm Golf and Country Club in Lahore, Pakistan recently. Thangaraja, who recently clinched the Indian Amateur title, cruised to a stylish four-stroke victory to bag Pakistan Amateur Crown with an aggregate of 287, one under par in all four rounds. He posted a considerable four stroke gap to the runner up Bangladesh golfer Dulal Hossain.

N. Thangaraja receiving the Champion trophy from Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar

N.Thangaraja and N. Ranga with the team event’s trophy.

The much fancied Pakistan golfer Wasim Rana did not live up to expectations and was dragged to the third position with an aggregate of 294, seven storks away from the winner.

Thangaraja, has performed extremely well in recent times and emerged strongly in the Asian regional golf scene by winning back to back two international titles. His skills have been improved and showed a great progress through out the four days of chilling competition in the Pakistan Amateur Championship. His every stroke reflected excellence and though a couple of shots did go astray, he overcame the stroke losses with solid play on the other holes and kept his winning way on the right track.

"It's been very satisfying. I have been pretty consistent off the tee and my putter has not been a distraction and in combination with the excellent Royal Palm Golf Course conditions I have been able to do well," said Thangaraja in his post match comments.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka duo Thangaraja and Ranga won the team event as well, scoring 286 aggregate in the two round event. Bangladesh pair D. Hossain and S. Ali became runner up while the Pakistan 'B' team, G. Mehmood and W. Rana had to satisfy with the third place.

In the women's event, reigning champion Ghazala Yasmin of Garrison Golf Club, Lahor, Pakistan won the title for the third consecutive time. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar was the chief guest at the prize distribution and gave away the awards. AA

Top seven golfers

N. Thangaraja (SL) 74+68+73+72=287, Dulal Hossain (Bangladesh) 71+71+76+73=291, Wasim Rana (Pakistan) 73+71+73+77=294, Sajib Ali (B'desh) 75+72+77+71=295, Ali Hai (Pakistan) 70+76+76+74=296Mohammad Rehman (Pakistan) 72+77+74+77=300, Ashiq Hussain (Pakistan) 71+73+75+81=300