SL Amateur Golf C’ships tees off

The Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship (SLAGC) which is played from 23-26 September is one of the most historic and prestigious golf tournaments in Asia, with both regional and global significance.

Founded in 1891, it is the second-oldest national amateur golf championship in the world, after the British Amateur Championship (1885).  

Initially established as the Ceylon Amateur Golf Championship during the colonial era, it was played at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC), itself founded in 1880.

The tournament quickly became a cornerstone of competitive golf in South and Southeast Asia, drawing participation from British planters, military officers, and later, elite amateur golfers from across the region.

Over the decades, it grew into an international championship, attracting leading amateurs from India, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and beyond.  

Notable past champions include:  W.P. Fernando, P.G. Sethi, M.G. Thornton – multiple-time winner. Timothy de Silva (Sri Lanka) – was the first Ceylonese winner, breaking European dominance. Lim Siew Kay (Singapore, 1960s) – a regional star. 

More recently, winners from Australia, Japan, and Korea have emerged reflecting the tournament’s widened scope.

It has been a pathway tournament for many Asian golfers who later turned professional or represented their countries in the Asian Games, Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Team Championship), and international tours. 

It also provided one of the earliest competitive platforms for Asian amateurs when golf was still heavily Western-dominated. Its legacy as the world’s second-oldest national amateur championship gives it immense historical weight. Winning the Sri Lanka Amateur is seen as a career-defining achievement for young golfers in Asia. 

The RCGC course, steeped in history, has been the main venue. The colonial heritage and challenging layout add to the championship’s character.

For Sri Lanka, the championship has been a way to project itself on the Asian sporting stage. It demonstrates the island’s ability to maintain traditions and host international-calibre competitions despite political and economic challenges.

Many champions and finalists have transitioned successfully into professional golf, using the SLAGC as a launchpad for Asian and global tours.

The Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship is not just a golf tournament but a living piece of sporting history. It embodies Sri Lanka’s colonial sporting heritage, continues to shape the trajectory of Asian golf talent, and remains a symbol of prestige and excellence in the amateur golfing world.

Source: The morning