Saad Habib Malik Secures Runner-Up Position in Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship

Pakistan’s Saad Habib Malik concluded his campaign as the runner-up at the 134th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship. He faced a tough playoff against Chanaka Perera, a local favorite, at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

The championship final, an extensive 36-hole match, initially saw Habib trailing by three strokes after the initial round. However, the determined Pakistani golfer demonstrated resilience by mounting a significant comeback. He leveled the score in the early stages of the second round, maintaining the tie until the end.

A missed putt on the 17th hole, by mere inches, proved to be a setback for Habib, as it could have given him the advantage. Ultimately, with both golfers tied after the 36th hole, a playoff determined the victor.

Perera, leveraging his deep familiarity with the course, outperformed Habib in the playoff, securing the championship. While Habib showcased commendable performance in driving and iron play, he encountered difficulties on the greens. Perera’s confident putting on familiar terrain ultimately made the difference.

Earlier in the week, Saad Habib demonstrated his prowess with dominant victories. He defeated Sri Lanka’s M.D. Sanjeewa with a score of 7/6 in the round of 16, triumphed over Jacob Norton 3/2, and outplayed India’s Vivaan Ubhayakar to advance to the quarterfinal. Subsequently, he overcame Sri Lanka’s emerging junior player, Reshan Algama, with a score of 3/2 in the semifinal, securing his place in the final.

Despite the unfortunate outcome in the playoffs, Habib’s remarkable performance underscores his increasing prominence in the regional golfing scene.