Sri Lanka clinched victory in the JR Jayewardene Trophy after a long wait, triumphing over two Pakistani golf teams at the start of the Smart City 63rd National Amateur Golf Championship’s international team match. The match took place at the Margalla Greens Golf Club in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday.
Uchitha Ranasinghe from the Royal Colombo Golf Club and Chalitha Pushpika from the Sri Lanka Navy teamed up to score a joint gross of 148, with each player hitting an impressive 74 on the 71-par course on the tournament’s first day. Their combined gorss score of 148 put them in the lead ahead of Pakistan teams ‘A’ and ‘B’.
In the 18-hole event, Ranasinghe and Pushpika trailed the first-round leaders Nouman Ilyas, Abdullah Ansar Raja, Ralphe Aslam Raja, and Shahazeb Jahan by just one shot. The competition includes a total of 95 players. Pakistan’s ‘A’ team, led by Qaism Ali Khan with a gross of 76 and Salman Jehangi with a gross of 74, had a total score of 150. Sri Lanka secured victory by a margin of two shots.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ‘B’ team, featuring Arsalan Shikoh Khan with a gross of 86 and Nouman Ilyas with 73, totaled 159. The JR Jayewardene Trophy, named after Sri Lanka’s first Executive
President, was initiated by JR Jayewardene himself to foster golf relations with Pakistan’s sixth President, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, during their respective tenures from 1978 to 1989.
Both countries dedicate the first day of their National Amateur Golf Championships to these prestigious trophies. Sri Lanka presents the Zia-ul-Haq Trophy during its national amateur championship, while Pakistan offers the JR Jayewardene Trophy during its national amateur championship.
This year, Pakistan hosted its 63rd national amateur championship, dedicating the first day to the JR Jayewardene Trophy. Sri Lanka will host its 133rd national amateur championship in November, with the opening day dedicated to presenting the Zia-ul-Haq Trophy to the winners.
Sajeewa Jayakody