The Sri Lanka Open played after a lapse of six years revived and powered by Dialog Axiata PLC was elevated to another level as the DIALOG SRI LANKA OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 was covered LIVE on DTV and Papare.com streamed far and wide.
With a total of 136 golfers Teeing-off in Round 1 the cut-off was implemented after round 2 and 36 golfers made the cut at 153, eleven over par for 2 rounds.
Dwivedi Samarth from India based with his family in Bangkok, Thailand since 1993, plays in the PGTI having turned Pro-Golfer eight years ago. Samarth is currently ranked 34th in the current PGTI rankings and during the off-season of the PGTI, plays in the Thailand Pro-tournaments.
Samarth said “After eight years of hard work, injuries, training and playing with passion and love for Golf finally brought victory in the Dialog Sri Lanka Open 2023. I have come close many times, I have shot 9 under 3 times but I was able to shoot 10 under and capture my first win in a Pro – Tournament for the first time and I believe it will be the first of many more in the future”.
Dwivedi Samarth led the field from round 2 where he climbed to the top of the leaderboard with a stunning 10 under par and maintained his lead to the end. Samarth’s achievement is most creditable as he was paired-off with Chouhan Om Prakash the number 1 ranked and Jamal Hossain number 5 ranked currently, having won the final PGTI event played in the first half of the PGTI 2023 season. The final round was a tense battle of skill, temperament and ability closely followed by a substantial crowd and Live-Coverage provided by DTV and Paper.com. Samarth 2 strokes ahead of Jamal held on to the same lead at the end with a final round 2 under par to be 13 under par on 271. Chouhan Om Prakash fired a 3 under par to tie for second place with Jamal Hossain who was one stroke ahead of O P. Anura Rohana the seven-time champion of the Open also shot a 3 under par 68 to clinch 4th place ahead of Udayan Mane, Saptak Talvar, Rashid Khan, Mithun Perera and M. Dharma of India.
The elegant Prize Giving covered LIVE by Dialog and Papare was an opportunity for Mr. Michael Magala President Sri Lanka Golf (SLG) to appreciate the Title Sponsor Dialog Axiata PLC, the Travel Partner SriLankan Airlines who brought-in international golfers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, the Hospitality Partner Courtyard By Marriott Colombo who hosted the international players, TRANSCEND DRIVE the Transport Partner, OLU water the Hydration Partner, Capitol Twin Peaks the 4th Hole-in-One partner, MD Nectar the fruit-drinks partner, Hemas Hospitals the Medi-Care Partner, 9th Hole-in-One sponsor SriLankan Airlines, the GOODWILL Sponsors Lanka IOC, GFLock, Devi Jewelers, Ideal Motors – Mahendra, Prima Ceylon, Pepsi, Fair First Insurance, English Tea Shop, DYNACOM Engineering, Omegaline and well-wishers.
Mr. Navin Peiris, Group Chief Officer, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC, speaking on the occasion said that Dialog supports many sports and is happy to have been the title sponsor of the Dialog Sri Lanka Open 2023 promoting Golf with Live-Coverage of the tournament. He also said that DIALOG would be happy to continue sponsorship and coverage of Golf with the Dialog team also learning the intricacies of the game, going forward to increase more international participation. Dr. Rohith Silva Captain of the RCGC recognized the RCGC Professional Jehan De Saram for a splendid job preparing the Golf Course fit for a super Open Championship and thanked the SLG for the development of junior golf significantly facilitating 12 juniors to play in the Sri Lanka Open. Mr. Ranil Peiris the President Elect of Sri Lanka Golf thanked the out-going President Michael Magala for an amazing Dialog Sri Lanka Open 2023 and for setting a very high benchmark to follow. He further thanked all the sponsors for the partnership with Sri Lanka Golf and invited all to continue the feature Open Championship next year.
The Champion Trophy, Replica and Winners Cheque was handed over by Mr. Navin Peiris and President SLG, whilst the joint Runners-up Prizes were handed over jointly by Mr. Saminda Perera Head of Marketing SriLankan Airlines and Mr. Elton Hurtis General Manager Courtyard by Marriott Colombo. Mr. Harsha Samaranayake Vice President Brand & Media Dialog Axiata PLC, Dr. Rohith Silva Captain RCGC, Mr. Trevine Fernandopulle President NEGC, Ms. Niloo Jayathilaka Representative Victoria Golf Resort, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana – Eagles Golf Links SLAF, Mr. Nalin Welgama Chairman Ideal Motors – Mahendra, Mr. G. K. Sudath Kumara Treasurer SLG / Captain NEGC, Mr. Aseem Bhargava Senior VP Finance Lanka IOC, H.E. Badli Hisham Adam High Commissioner of Malaysia to Sri Lanka, Hony. Secretary SLG Mr. Lal Wickramathunge gave away the prizes and comprised the Award distribution panel along with the SLG team Mr. Duminda De Soyza, Mr. Pradeep Kumara and the Master of Ceremonies Mr. Dian Abeyewardene Coordinator of the Dialog Sri Lanka Open 2023. Mr. Lal Wickramathunge delivered the Vote of thanks and the prize distribution was followed by fellowship, golf post-mortem and Hi-Tea. TRANSCEND DRIVE, Courtyard by Marriott Colombo and SriLankan Airlines had the last say with the international players rushing to the Hotel to pack and drive to KIA to catch the flights back home, pledging to be back again next year for the outstanding, historic Dialog Sri Lanka Open.
DIALOG SRI LANKA OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 LEADER BOARD AT A GLANCE
-13 WINNER – DWIVEDI SAMARTH [IND] 271 (72,61,69,69)
-11 Runners-up Jt – CHOUHAN OM PRAKASH [IND] 273 (69,65,71, 68) JAMAL HOSSAIN [BAN] (68,67, 69,69)
– 8 Placed 4th – R. A. ANURA ROHANA [SRI] 276 (67,70, 71,68)
– 7 Placed 5th – UDAYAN MANE [IND] 277 (67, 72, 69, 69)
– 5 Placed 6th – SAPTAK TALWAR (IND) 279 (70,69,69,71)
– 4 Placed 7th – MOHAMMED RASHID KHAN [IND] 280 (72,70, 65, 73)
– 2 Placed 8th Jt- M. DHARMA [IND] 282 (71,69, 72, 70) MITHUN PERERA [IND]72, 71, 67, 72)
– 1 Placed 10th – N. THANGARAJA (SRI) 283 (71,74,67, 71)
+1 Placed 11th Jt – JAIBIR SINGH [IND] 285 (71,72,71,71) M.H. CHALITHA PUSHPIKA [SLNAVY] 68, 75, 71,71)
+4 Placed 13th -YEVIN SAMARARATNE [AUS] 288 (75,72, 68,73)
+6 Placed 14th – RESHAN ALGAMA[SRI] 290 (68, 75, 75, 72)
+8 Placed 15TH Jt – 292 SASIDARAN MUTTIAH [MAL] (76,73,71,72) IWASAKI MAKOTO [JPN] (72,76,72,72) K. PRABAGARAN [SRI] (68,71,75,78)
