In a thrilling four-day spectacle of golf, professional golfer K. Prabagaran emerged as the champion, while amateur golfer Haroon Aslam astonished spectators by claiming the third-place title in the prestigious Sri Lanka Golf Ranking Tournament. The tournament concluded at the scenic Victoria Golf Resort in Digana on Thursday.
Competing at the challenging Victoria Golf Club, players faced a par score of 73. K. Prabagaran showcased remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, posting scores of 71, 73, 71, and 68 for a total of 283, ultimately securing the coveted champion’s trophy.
The runner-up position was claimed by another seasoned professional golfer, T. Thangaraja, who amassed a total of 290 points (72, 74, 73, 71). However, the spotlight fell on 19-year-old amateur golfer Haroon Aslam, who delivered a stunning performance, beating two professional golfers to clinch the third place.
Aslam’s journey to success was not without its hurdles. On the first day, he struggled with a score of 82, but he showcased immense resilience and determination over the next three days. His subsequent scores of 69, 73, and 68 brought him back into contention, resulting in a commendable even par total of 292.
Aslam’s impressive performance and underdog story captured the hearts of spectators, especially since he is a second-year graduate student at Texas Wesleyan University in the United States.
Reflecting on his achievement, Haroon Aslam said, “I didn’t have a good start, but I recovered well during the last three days. I am pretty happy about my performance and proud of what I have achieved here.” Aslam’s remarkable display of talent and determination proved that he has a promising future in the sport.
One of the tournament’s standout moments was provided by underdog T. Vikash, who finished 25th out of 28 players, but he etched his name into the record books with a remarkable feat. Vikash achieved a rare hole-in-one on the 12th hole at the Victoria Golf Club, hitting a straight shot from a distance of 70 metres, setting a new club record.
Sajeewa Jayakody