HSBC Premier Golf winners to witness 150th Open Championship in Scotland

HSBC Premier Challenge Trophy Winner Deepal Akuretiyagama with HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor 

HSBC Premier Golf Runner-Up Ladies Niloo Jayathilake with HSBC Sri Lanka Head of International and Propositions Indrajith Alexander

HSBC 5-Club A Division Runner-up Rajeeve Rajapaksa with HSBC Sri Lanka Head of Marketing and Communications Tharanga Gunesekera

Premier Junior Golf Runner-up Age Group 12 Varun Fernando with HSBC Sri Lanka Head of Premier Branch Network and Sales Shafraz Zuhar

HSBC successfully concluded two back to back golf tournaments at the Royal Colombo Golf Club recently which brought together RCGC golfers, and HSBC Premier golfers who competed for a shot at winning a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland.

This year over 180 golfers demonstrated their golf skills at the HSBC Premier Golf Tournament held for the ninth year, while over 250 golfers from RCGC played in the annual 5-Club Stableford Tournament, marking 26-years of HSBC’s title sponsorship.

Deepal Akuretiyagama was the overall winner to take home the HSBC Premier Challenge Trophy and was also winner of the Seniors and Ladies and C division with a score of 43 points. Dihan Dedigama scored 38 points on a B/B 9 and was the winner of the A and B divisions. Anouk Chitty won the Ladies division with 39 Points, while Chandana De Silva won the Senior’s division with 37 Points.

The two overall winners were each presented with a fully sponsored four nights, five days’ hospitality package each to watch the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland from 10-17 July, of which HSBC is a patron. In addition, each winner was also awarded a global health policy with benefits up to $ 800,000 courtesy of Allianz Insurance as part of HSBC’s global partnership.

Deepal Akuretiyagama sharing his thoughts said: “As a sportsman from my younger days, my motto for any sport has always been to work hard to improve your skills and then you play what you learnt with passion and joy. Winning is a bonus. 

“Although this is my first commercial tournament, HSBC provided a perfect environment to apply my belief. It was a fun filled and highly professional tournament. I am grateful to HSBC for sponsoring me to the 150th Open in Scotland, which is any golfer's dream. It was a privilege to be part of this. Thank you HSBC.”

“The recently concluded HSBC tournament was as well organised as a tournament could be. The professional approach from HSBC staff to look into every little matter was amazing. The entire team put on a great display of coordination and by winning gave me a once in a lifetime opportunity, first being able to attend the momentous occasion of the 150th Open Championship and the honour and privilege to visit St. Andrews. Thank you HSBC team,” said Dihan Dedigama.

Sanjeewa Wickramanayake and Adrian Perera also walked away with a Global Health Insurance plan each from Allianz Insurance offered exclusively to HSBC Premier customers during a special draw. The overall winner at this year’s 5-Club Stableford Tournament was Manoj Algama who secured the highest score of 43 Points. The ladies champion was Fran De Mel who scored 40 points. Winning the A Division was W.A.K. Fernando with 41 Points and the B Division winner was Manoj Algama with 43 Points. The winner of the C division was Manjula Lanerolle scoring 42 Points, while Harendra De Silva won the Seniors division with a score of 39 Points.

HSBC is a long-term partner of some of the biggest events in global golf, including, the World Golf Championships, HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and The Open in the UK. In Sri Lanka, HSBC has helped elevate the game through the sponsorship of HSBC Future Lions at grassroots level to increase both interest and participation in the game.

Continuing from last year, this year’s Premier Golf tournament also invited Premier Juniors to test their skills on the course with an 18-hole stroke play. Kaiyan Johnpillai won the 12 and below age group with 93 gross and Arika Wickramasinghe won the 13-18 age group scoring 75 gross.

In keeping with HSBC’s Net Zero ambitions, a key highlight this year was that every participating golfer at both tournaments received a box of recycled Bamboo tees from OCEANTEE, who will be supplying the same recycled tees to the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland. Further, to support RCGC’s own ambition of becoming carbon neutral through Project Zero, the HSBC Premier Golf T-Shirts worn at the tournament were made from recycled pet bottles. Congratulating both winners Deepal Akuretiyagama and Dihan Dedigama,  HSBC Sri Lanka Head of Wealth and Personal Banking James Rebert said: “We are happy to be able to give our customers an opportunity to not just enjoy golf locally, but to also experience world-class golf events, that connect to their international lifestyle. 

“We hope both winners will enjoy their experience this year at the 150th Open Championship. This year also marked the second junior premier event creating an opportunity for young players to enter the tournament. 

“Congratulations to Kaiyan Johnpillai and Arika Wickramasinghe on winning this year’s event and we wish them a bright future ahead in golf. We will continue to create these experiences and new opportunities as part of our global Premier banking proposition to support our customer’s ambitions both locally and internationally.”  

The tournament concluded with the awards ceremony held at the Club House.

HSBC Premier Golf A and B Division Overall Winner Dihan Dedigama with HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor and HSBC Sri Lanka Country Head of Wealth and Personal Banking James Rebert 

HSBC Premier Golf Seniors Winner Chandana De Silva with HSBC Sri Lanka Country Head of Wealth and Personal Banking James Rebert

HSBC 5-Club C Division Winner Manjula Lanerolle with HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Head of Wholesale Banking Stuart Rogers 

HSBC Premier Junior Golf Age Group 13-18 Winner Arika Wickramasinghe with HSBC Sri Lanka Head of International and Propositions Indrajith Alexander