After a three-year break due to the pandemic and economic challenges, the Victoria Golf Resort (VGR) and the rival Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC) are set to tee off once again for the 4th Victoria Gregory Derby Tee Off. Sponsored by Lynear Wealth Management, the tournament will take place on October 14 at the Victoria Golf Resort in Rajawella. The announcement was made during a press
conference held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club on Monday.
The one-day tournament, last hosted in 2019, will welcome both genders to compete. Nayana Dehigama will lead the NEGC team in the men’s tournament, while Kanchana Wickramasinghe will captain the VGR squad. For the ladies’ competition, Ahalya Rajan will head the NEGC team, and the VGR team will be led by golf icon Niloo Jayathilake.
Nayana Dehigama, captain of the NEGC, expressed excitement about the tournament’s return, stating, “The revival of this tournament after a three-year hiatus has been a breath of fresh air. It’s an honor to be part of this tradition that brings golfers from both clubs together.” Captain of VGR, Kanchana
The main sponsor, Lynear Wealth Management’s Managing Director and Co-founder, Naveen Gunawardhana, shared his enthusiasm, saying, “Lynear Wealth Management is excited to partner with the Victoria Golf Resort and Nuwara Eliya Golf Club as sponsors of the Derby 2023. We wish both teams the best of luck.”
Rusiru Abeysinghe, the Head of Asset Management at John Keells Properties and Vice President of John Keells Holdings, expressed his pleasure in hosting the Victoria Gregory Derby and resuming the rivalry after a brief pause.
The Victoria Gregory Derby, which began in 2017, saw NEGC gents emerge as victors in the inaugural year. In 2018, both trophies were clinched by VGR teams in both genders. NEGC is the defending champion, having secured both titles in the tournament last held in 2019, before the pandemic and subsequent economic challenges forced a break of three years.
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