LECTRA Golf Grand-Prix: Amarapadma leads by one in Diyatalawa

Left to right - G.P. Sisira Kumara, N. Amarapadma, R. Sureshan, B.A. Sanjeewa

Veteran Amateur Golfer N. Amarapadma nosed his way into the lead, shooting an incredible seven under par 63 in two consecutive rounds to snatch a slender one stroke advantage from B. A. Sanjeewa, in clear second place on an aggregate 195, an incredible fifteen under par. 

It appears that the aggressive 9-hole Diyatalawa Golf Course, known as a physical endurance Golf Course, has been mastered by the Sri Lankan National Pool players, with eight golfers under par in their three-round aggregate totals. Furthermore, four golfers have returned under-par scores in each of the three rounds, whilst 14 of the top 21 who made the cut-off have at least one round under par after the first two rounds. The standard of scoring has clearly improved, and that could be down to the new fitness training program introduced by the Sri Lanka Golf Union in coordination with the National Olympic Committee, Sri Lanka.

Recently crowned Sri Lanka Junior Match-Play Champion 2019, S. Dhuwarshan and the runner-up Haroon Aslam, made the ‘cut’ and are playing with credit among the top National Pool players. Sisira Kumara, previous LECTRA Grand-Prix Editions winner, fired a 64 in the 3rd round to be joint third with Sureshan, the joint leader after round one. N. Ranga, the winner of the March edition, is overall -1 after three rounds, with a -3 third round, but is tied in 8th place with NEGC Golfer Vinoth Kumar, who fired a four under par 66 to make ground on the leaders.

The leading duo of Amarapadma (-16) and Sanjeewa (-15) are clear of Sisira Kumara (-8), J. M. D. Indika (-7) and Sampath Kelum (-6) in 3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively, all of whom complete the top FIVE in the April Edition of LECTRA Golf Grand-Prix 2019, sponsored by Apparel Technologies member of the Bobbin Group of Companies.

The final round promises a great finish with the top two in battle separated by just one stroke, whilst the next three places are just two strokes apart. The final round tees-off early and will be followed by a solemn prize distribution.

LECTRA SRI LANKA GOLF GRAND-PRIX 2019 APRIL EDITION STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 3

- 16 N. Amarapadma (68, 63, 63)

- 15 B. A. Sanjeewa (67, 63, 65)

- 8   G. P. Sisira Kumara (70, 68, 64)

- 7    J. M. D. Indika (69, 67, 67)

- 6    Sampath Kelum (69, 69, 66)

- 2   J. K. Januka Dilshan (74, 64, 70)

- 1   B. Vinoth Kumar (71, 72, 66) Navinda Ranga (71, 71, 67)

+ 3  M. H. Chalitha Pushpika (69, 72, 72)

+6  M U Chanaka Perera (74, 70, 72)

+8  W.N. Waiddyaratne (75, 75, 68) Haroon Aslam (71, 79, 68)

+ 10   H. L. S. Sanath Chandra

+ 11   S. Dhuwarshan

+12    G. I. Dilranga

+ 13  R. M. S. Rupasinghe

+ 14   U. A. Ranasinghe

+ 16   P. W. A. D. Pushpakumara

+ 18   H. G. C. P. Chathuranga   

+ 19   I. P. P. K. Illangaratne