HSBC Future Lions Golf grassroots program targets 800 new junior players across Sri Lanka

The HSBC Future Lions Program, which was initiated last year in Welisara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura and Kilinochchi with the participation of over 300 schoolchildren, seems to have almost come full circle, said Dirk Flamer-Caldera, a member of the ‘Future Lions’ organising subcommittee. 

The programs in Welisara, Anuradhapura and Kilinochchi continued throughout the year thanks to the generosity of the Sri Lanka Golf Union. The Sri Lanka Armed Forces as well as the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya golf clubs ably took ownership of these programs and conducted them with considerable success.

Following on, a novices tournament was held for the juniors of the Welisara, Anuradhapura and Kilinochchi academies in April 2018. The team event was won by Kilinochchi and the best individual score came from Anuradhapura. The SLGU said it took pride in the fact that four promising kids from each of these three academies would travel to Colombo to participate in the HSBC international tournament due to be played on 1 August 2018. 

The HSBC Future Lions Program/The Schools Golf Development Program will start afresh once more on 27 July, with the addition of three new locations, namely Eagles Golf Links China Bay, the Diyatalawa Army golf course and Shangri-La golf course in Hambantota. 

MAS Kreeda, the apparel partner, will provide sportswear for the ‘Future Lions’ program. Speaking on the sponsorship, CEO/Managing Director Sarinda Unamboowe said: “MAS KREEDA is happy to once again be a part of the HSBC Sri Lanka International Junior Golf Championship 2018 following what was a very successful kick-off in 2017. We were proud to see this initiative take flight and have a positive effect on junior golf in the island. To ensure the further growth of golfing talent, we at KREEDA look forward to the prospect of working cohesively with the Sri Lanka Golf Union to increase accessibility and opportunity for junior golfers island-wide. We wish the SLGU the best of luck with this exciting program.”

IMORICH Premium Ice Cream from Elephant House has once again partnered the Sri Lanka Golf Union for the HSBC Premier Sri Lanka International Junior Golf Championships as the official ‘Indulgence Partner’. IMORICH Premium Ice Cream is happy to be on board for the second consecutive year and sees this as an ideal platform for the brand. 

Olu water is the official beverage partner and Callaway Golf is the equipment partner, continuing its sponsorship from last year. 

Chandana Weerasinghe, a representative for Callaway Golf in Sri Lanka, stated: “Callaway Golf is the world’s largest maker of premium, performance golf products and we are happy to sponsor the select juniors at different locations of this year’s outreach program.”

To register or gain more information all schools and parents can call Duminda on 0714-327343 (SLGU hotline).  

HSBC Premier Clients can register by contacting their respective Relationship Managers.