The 133rd Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Amateur Championship first played in March 1891 is the second oldest Amateur Golf Tournament in the world, following “The Amateur Championship” (UK) in 1885. This year’s tournaments was sponsored by CEAT EUROPE RANGE and conducted at the Royal Colombo Golf Club from 05th – 10th November.

Sri Lanka Golf (SLG) had a large contingent of entrants from overseas, 2 from the Pakistan National team, 15 from India, and 1 from Dubai, making it a large field of 82 men all vying for National honors and an opportunity to win the second oldest amateur championship.

At the completion of the two qualifying rounds played on the 05th and 06th November, Manoj Sreerappa from India, also the current Sri Lanka Junior Match Play winner was the top qualifier with two rounds under par, of 67 & 69. 5 shots away was another Indian, Varun Muthappa, and top ranked Sri Lankan and National representative, Chalitha Pushpika a further 4 shots away. Among the field of 32 qualifiers included 8 youths from India, 2 from Pakistan, 1 from Dubai, 4 National representatives from Sri Lanka, junior golfers Reshan, Kaiyan, Adhithya, Pranav, Dhanushan, Nirwan and Jacob, RCGC’s seasoned golfers Ranil, Adam and Kushal, players from the Air Force and Vinodh and Dhuwarshan from NEGC all battling for honors.

The 1st round saw the elimination of junior golfer Reshan Algama losing to Shamit Dakhane from India 6/5. Kaiyan Johnpillai fought hard against seasoned player B Vinodh from NEGC, eventually losing 2/1 and Adhithya Weerasinghe lost to Jevahn Sathasivam 6/5.

The second (pre quarter finals) and third round (quarter finals) were played on Friday 08th November. It was a test of nerves, mental toughness, stamina and physical perseverance, with the weather conditions playing a part, from the morning round to the afternoon round, particularly for players who advanced to the semifinals played on Saturday.

The biggest upsets in the morning round was when junior golfers Jevahn Sathasivam beat Chalitha Pushpika, Sri Lanka’s no 1 player, 2/1, and K Dhanushan beat Chanaka Perera, another Sri Lanka National player, 2/1. Sumit Kotwal beat Shayaan Khadri 5/4. Manoj Sreerappa cruised through to the quarter finals, where he came up against compatriot Shamit Dakhane. Sreerappa succumbed to some solid golf from Dakhane, losing 3/2. Suraj Joshi had to fight hard to maintain his 1up lead standing on the 18th tee against Sri Lanka’s junior rising player Jacob Norton. They both halved the 18th hole in birdies, after Joshi sank a 20 footer to Norton’s gimme putt. Varun Muthappa, an elegant golfer to watch, beat Pakistan golfer Malik Shoaib 2/1.

Shamit Dakhane and Suraj Joshi fought hard and offered some good golf to anyone watching their match. Dakhane won 1up. Varun Muthappa ranked 15 in the IGU merit list came short of advancing into the final playing against Jevahn Sathasivam. Sathasivam, Sri Lanka’s only remaining player, played some spectacular golf. An errant bogey on the 17th hole brought Sathasivam’s lead from 2up to 1up. A well placed tee shot on the 18th, a miss- hit 2nd shot, a fantastic chip from the rough and a perfectly struck putt gave Sathasivam a par against Muthappa’s no frills par, to seal the match on the 18th hole and giving Jevahn a first time experience in the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship final.

The final, played on Sunday, was over 36 holes. The morning round commenced at 7:30am and the afternoon round at 1pm.

At 16 years, 08 months Sathasivam showed all those watching the final what a tenacious golfer he is. After being 3 down playing the 15th hole in the morning, he got himself back into the game by winning the 15th, 17th and 18th holes. The final was shaping up to be an exciting one with the 2 young competitors all square to face the 18 holes to come in the afternoon. In the words of W. P. Fernando Jnr,  “From 19th to 27th Jevahn was level par after 1 double bogey and 2 birdies and was 5 up. He lost the 29th, birdied 30 to remain 5 up and 6 to play. His opponent seemed to have suddenly transformed into a birdie machine with Birdies at 31st and 32nd resulting in a few cracks in Jevahn’s game which pulled his lead back to 2 up with 3 to play. His opponent continued to put pressure with some brilliant play but the lead was just too much and when faced with an awkward downhill sidehill birdie putt to win the 35th, just gave it a little too much and rolled it about 2.5 feet past the hole.

Jevahn had a stroke of luck with his wayward drive at the 35th which was sailing OB but hit a tree and bounced back but leaving him with an awkward shot from just past the 34th (16th) green. He then pulled out a miracle shot to be just 30 feet short of the 35th green. His chip did not run enough but ended up within sinking distance. His opponent was left with an awkward choice – whether to lag it and hope Jevahn would miss or go for his birdie and seal the hole. He chose the positive option but didn’t have the experience to know that pressure adds distance through adrenaline flowing through the body.

Having missed the birdie the 17 year old Shamit Dakhane facing a partisan crowd, missed the return putt. His miss brought tears all around from tears of sadness in his eyes to tears of joy in his opponents eyes and to that of all Jevahn’s family and supporters who then literally showered him with water to add to the congratulations and praises….I felt truly privileged to have seen young Jevahn winning his first National amateur against formidable opposition”.

The Sri Lanka Ladies Amateur Championship and Sri Lanka Ladies Stroke Play Championship powered by CEAT Europe Range were held in conjunction with each other. The Sri Lanka Stroke Play Championship was held from 05th to 07th November. Kaya Daluwatte returned scores of 76, 72 & 69 and was head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the field.

The qualifying rounds of the Sri Lanka Ladies Amateur Championship were held on the 06th and 07th November. Kaya Daluwatte dominated this tournament as well. With gross scores of 72 and 69 she led the field of 8 qualifiers. Anouk Chitty had scores of 81,81 to come in 2nd place. Kaya had no real opposition on her way to yet another victory.

The F B De Mel Cup, a match play tournament off handicap was won by Elsie Pathmanathan beating junior golfer from Victoria, Sithara Lawrence 2/1.

Jehan De Saram and his team of course staff did a wonderful job in keeping the course in good condition, despite all the rain we saw the weeks ahead of the Championship. SLG is most grateful to the Captain and General Committee of RCGC for giving the course to Sri Lanka Golf to conduct this Championship and extending the course and club facilities to all participants and much appreciation to the sponsors, CEAT Europe Range, for coming forward to sponsor this event and making it a memorable one, and to Cinnamon Red for coming forward as our hospitality partner.