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Dhruv Sheoran salvaged some pride for India, defeating Chalitha Pushpika 3 and 1 in the first semifinal, to set up an intriguing India-Sri Lanka 36-hole final to be played today at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.
Chalitha made one too many mistakes, hitting out of bounds on the fourth and eighth, in addition to several missed putts. Despite all these errors, Chalitha was just one down while playing the 15th and a missed putt cost him the hole to be ‘dormie’ two down. Sheoran hit a brilliant tee shot on the Par 3, 17th to seal the match. In the all-Sri Lankan second semifinal, G.P. Sisira Kumara continued his steady golf to defeat teammate N. Amarapadma 3 and 2. Kumara reached his second consecutive Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship final, having been the runner-up last year to Namuangruk of Thailand.
The final commences at 7.30 a.m. and Kumara will look to avenge his loss in the final last year and annex the Amateur Championship title for 2017. Nevertheless, Sheoran is a leading amateur who was the top qualifier for the 2017 PGTI Q-School, awaiting the opportunity to represent India in the Asian Games in 2018.
The Sri Lanka-India clash is sure to be a cracker and an opportunity for Sri Lanka to win the championship last won by N. Thangaraja in 2012. India last won the title in 2013 courtesy of Syed Saqib Ahmed.
130th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship 2017 semifinal results:
Dhruv Sheoran beat M.H. Chalitha Pushpika 3 and 1
G.P. Sisira Kumara beat N. Amarapadma 3 and 2