Bradby Golf 2020: Tharanga and Samitha to lead

Monday, 24 June 2019 00:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Two captains of 2020 event for Old Royal and Old Trinity hold the trophy

By Shamseer Jaleel

Bradby Golf which is a much-looked forward event each year taking place a day before the Kandy leg of the annual Bradby Shield encounter will see Tharanga Gunasekera (Old Trinitian) and Samitha Perera (Old Royalist) leading their respective outfits as Bradby Golf celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2020. This tournament is played for the G.C. Wickremasinghe Challenge Trophy.

Tharanga Gunasekera a keen advocate of the game got in to golf three years back at the Royal Colombo Golf Course (RCGC) where he learnt his basics. He became the player with the highest gross score for his alma-mater at the 2019 event which took place at the Victoria Golf and Country Resort (VGCR) at this year’s event. He was one of the founder members who introduced the game to Trinity College recently which was a major success where more than 40 students engage in the game at present.

Tharanga speaking to Daily FT said: “I am honoured to lead Trinity in 2020, as Bradby Golf celebrates its fifth anniversary, I am thankful to Bimal Fernando and Ravana Wijeratne who initiated this event from Trinity which is a great event building amazing camaraderie between Royal and Trinity and seen a steady rise in participation and support from its partners.”

Meanwhile the Old Royalist outfit will be led by Samitha Perera,who began playing the game while studying in the US. His passion for the game and serious golfing, however, was kindled two years ago after playing alongside fellow competitive golfers and obtaining his official handicap from RCGC.

Royal College Captain Samitha Perera said: “It is truly an honour to be leading the Old Royal team for Bradby Golf 2020. Very rarely does one get to be part of a tradition in making and the event in its fifth consecutive year has steadily been making strides to be the most anticipated invent in the golfing calendar. There is no doubt that 2020 will be bigger and better than its predecessors and I have confidence that the team will continue in our undefeated streak and lift coveted trophy.”

The fifth anniversary edition will see a change of format from Stableford to match play. (SJ)