Cricketers Mahela, Mohan excel at inaugural Ananda-Nalanda golf tourney

Overall Winner - Nalanda College: Mahela Jayawardene receiving his trophy and gift from Ananda College Golf Captain Wasantha de Silva and Vice-Captain Primal Wijayanayake

Overall Winner - Ananda College: Mohan de Silva receiving his trophy and gift from Nalanda College Golf Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Vice-Captain Roshan Silva

Two cricketing stalwarts of SSC – Mahela Jayawardene and Mohan de Silva showed their hand in a different sport when they emerged winners for their respective alma maters in the inaugural Ananda-Nalanda ‘Big Match’ golf encounter themed ‘First Flight’ held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club course last week.

The tournament was played in a stableford format, with Ananda College emerging champions. Mohan de Silva emerged Overall Winner for Ananda with 41 points while Dehan de Silva was the Overall Runner-up with 37 points (B/B9). For Nalanda, Mahela Jayawardene was the Overall Winner with 35 points with Anura Balasooriya, the Overall Runner-up with 34 points.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have won the inaugural Maroon Golf tournament against our rivals and brothers Nalanda. It was great competition, and we played our best golf to come out on top. We all played as a team, and we enjoyed every minute of it,” said Ananda College golf team Captain Wasantha de Silva.

Nalanda team Captain Mahela Jayawardene said: “As the hosts of the first ever Ananda-Nalanda Golf Tournament, we are proud of how we played, and we are already looking forward to the rematch next year.”

The success of the tournament has paved the way for future competitions between the two colleges, with plans already underway for a bigger and better tournament next year.