Sri Lanka Golf National Ranking tournament

• Uchitha Ranasinghe triumphs in thrilling finish

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka National Ranking tournament for June 2024 concluded on a high note at the scenic Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC), course where Uchitha Ranasinghe emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish in the Hill Country.

The event, which has long been a highlight of the Sri Lankan golfing calendar, showed a dramatic final day characterised by intense competition and shifting fortunes, culminating in Ranasinghe’s victory by a single shot in the last round over Haroon Aslam.

The final round of the championship was a gripping spectacle, with Ranasinghe and his closest competitors locked in a fierce battle. The picturesque but challenging course in the Hill Country, known for its undulating fairways and strategically placed hazards, provided a fitting stage for the drama that unfolded. Throughout the day, the leader-board saw frequent changes, keeping everyone on edge.

Ranasinghe’s performance was a master-class in poise under pressure. Demonstrating remarkable consistency and nerves of steel, he maintained his composure through the course’s challenging back nine. It all came down to the final over, where Ranasinghe’s calculated play secured him the win by the narrowest of margins.

Haroon Aslam and Chalitha Pushpika were formidable contenders, each delivering impressive performances. Haroon, who led briefly in the earlier stages of the final round, displayed very good skill learnt from USA but ultimately could not match Ranasinghe’s precision in the closing moments. Aslam’s finish earned him a well-deserved second place, just a stroke behind the champion.

Chalitha Pushpika, who had shown great promise throughout the tournament, claimed third place. Pushpika’s play was characterised by strategic shot selection and commendable execution, which kept him in contention until the very end. Reshan Algama, another standout player in the tournament, secured fifth place with a solid performance, carding a 2-over-par for the round. Algama’s consistent play was particularly noteworthy. A Dhanaranjan ended on number 4 pushing Reshan to 5th position in the end.

 Another sensational youngster, Yannik Kumara ended on number 6 position with a total of 314 strokes. Other golfers, Chanaka Perera ended 7th while Jevahn Sathasivam ended on number 12. Making his debut, Jacob Norton ended well on number 11 position showing lot of promise in his very first major tournament and with match exposure he will be a golfer to look forward to.

This National Ranking Tournament was organised and conducted by Sri Lanka Golf.