Inaugural Ananda-Nalanda golf ‘Big Match’ a resounding success

The Ananda and Nalanda teams for the inaugural Maroons Golf tournament 2023

Overall Winner – Ananda College: Mohan de Silva receiving his trophy and gift from Nalanda Golf 2023 Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Vice-captain Roshan Silva 

Wasantha de Silva, Captain of the winning Ananda Golf Team receiving the Champions Trophy from Nalanda Golf 2023 Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Vice-Captain Roshan Silva

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

Two of Sri Lanka’s leading Big Match rivalries took to a different Green on 28 March as Ananda College and Nalanda College faced off in the first-ever Maroons Golf tournament between the leading Colombo colleges at the Royal Colombo Golf Club course.

The inaugural edition of Maroons Golf was themed the ‘First Flight’ and the tournament aims to continue fostering healthy competition between two traditional cricket Big Match rivals. The day was filled with excitement and anticipation as the teams teed off, with avid supporters and players from both Ananda and Nalanda welcoming the Golf Big Match.

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 for Ananda with 37 points (B/B9). For Nalanda, Mahela Jayawardene was the Overall Winner with 35 points while Anura Balasooriya took the Overall Runner-up position with 34 points.

Speaking after the event, Ananda Golf team Captain Wasantha de Silva said: “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.”

The event was well received by both colleges, with representatives from Nalanda congratulating Ananda on their win. 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.