Simarjeet creates golf
history in Sri Lanka

India's top amateur Simarjeet Singh created history when he returned his third straight win at the Sri Lankan Open Amateur Golf Championship, played at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, Colombo, from August 31 to September 7.

He became the first non-Sri Lankan to win the tournament thrice in succession. His earlier two wins came in 2000, in Nuwaraeliya, and in 2001, in Kandy. This was the 111th edition of the Sri Lankan Amateur Open.

Simarjeet beat fellow-Indian Vikrant Chopra in a 36-hole final with a scoreline of 6 and 4.

"This is a dream come true," said the 26-year old Simarjeet, employed as an Officer on Special Duty in Oil India Ltd. "I credit this win to my Italian coach Donato di Ponziano, who taught me to draw the golf ball just a week before the tournament. The Royal Colombo Golf Course suits golfers who draw the ball," added the smiling golfer who also thanked his parents for their steady support throughout his career.

On his way to the final, Simarjeet beat C Mansoor (SL) 5 & 4 in the opening round, second-ranked Pakistani golfer Tariq Mahmood 2 & 1 in the second round, M Amparapatna (SL) 3 & 2 in the quarter-finals and Sri Lankan No. 1, Tissa Chandradasa on the 18th hole in the semi-finals.

"The match against the Pakistani golfer, Mahmood, was the most thrilling of the lot. I was three down after five holes and went on to card six birdies thereafter to win the match on the 17th hole.

India finished second in the international team event, which included teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The Indian squad comprised Simarjeet, Vikrant Chopra, Harinder Gupta and Gagan Verma.