Priyanga Hapugalla wins UTE powered Pin Fernando Trophy 2012

United Tractors and Equipment (UTE) powered the Pin Fernando Golf Tournament again this year at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC). The Pin Fernando Trophy was inaugurated in 1979 during the centenary year of the RCGC to honour Sri Lanka’s amateur golfer.

UTE’s Chairman and current Captain of RCGC handing over the trophy to Priyanga Hapugalle (right)

This year UTE also sponsored the inaugural Pam Fernando Trophy which honours the ‘Mother Superior’ of Sri Lanka golf, who also achieved the record of being the oldest lady to win a National title in golf.

The event commenced on 14 July with a qualifying round and followed with the top eight qualifiers battling it out in match play format over the next three days concluding with the final being played on 17 July. Priyanga Hapugalla came from behind in an exciting contest with Chamath Kulasinghe to grab the trophy in a sudden death play-off at the 19th hole, while the experienced war horse and former National title holder Suwaneetha Selvaratnam took the Silver away from the jeweller Roshini Sangani and was home for an early tea after winning the Pam Fernando Trophy in convincing style being four up at the 14th hole.

“We have always been huge supporters of Golf in Sri Lanka,” said UTE CEO Riyaad Ismail. “Pin Fernando, our former chairman, believed strongly in the values of precision, hard-work and persistence. It’s these values that make a successful golfer, and Pin Fernando infused them into our corporate culture. UTE is proud to power the sport in his name. Apart from UTE sponsoring RCGC’s Pin Fernando Trophy for the last seven years at the RCGC and also sponsoring the RCGC’s July Monthly Medal, we have shown our commitment at a National Level by sponsoring the Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship,” concluded Ismail. All participants in the July Monthly Medal and the Pin Fernando Trophy were invited to experience an evening of cocktails and sumptuous food in harmony with good music and a beautiful setting in the clubhouse of the RCGC to join with other eminent members of Sri Lanka’s business community helping UTE to celebrate its 65 years in business.