Kaya Daluwatte played excellent golf in fine weather to lead from start to finish to become the undisputed champion in the Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship 2022, that concluded at the RCGC golf course on Thursday (22).
She finished with an impressive score of 28 strokes clear of the gold and silver combined division age group category.
Kaya was far ahead of Sherin Balasooriya who snatched second place with a final round 77, having trailed Dhevinka by four strokes going in to the final round.
Kaya Daluwatte’s performance was outstanding completing the Junior Championship with another 1 under par 71 for a 3 round Gross total of Seven under par form 54 holes.
It was an extremely impressive performance for the budding star 14-year-old lass, showing all the positive signs of going the distance to becoming a future leading golfer.
The boys’ category was won by K. Dhanushan who also led from the first round and secured the title as the Junior golf champion.
Dhanushan has been receiving the sponsorship from NOC for the past two years and proved that he deserved the support he received. He held his nerve to withstand the mighty challenge and put aside the defending champion in Yannik Kumara and the RCGC club champion Nirekh Tejwani. Dhanushan finished with 215 strokes just five strokes from Yannik Kumara.
Nirekh Tejwani fired seven birdies and ended with an outstanding 3 under par gross 68. Yannik Kumara shot a 72 while Dhanushan held his nerve and displayed a cool attitude to end on even par 71 in the final round to finish winner by a comfortable five strokes.
Reshan Algama continued his skillful golf and crafted a brilliant 6 under par in the final round for a 54 hole aggregate of 206, a total of seven under par gross to be crowned the unchallenged Silver Division Champ, 24 strokes clear of the runner-up Thejas Kanth.
Adithya Weerasinghe from Anuradhapura secured a creditable third place from Jacob Norton 8 strokes further behind in fourth place.
In the Bronze division Kaitlyn Norton held on to her lead after two rounds to win the 10-11+ age group category by 3 strokes from Saqeeb Zuhar followed by Anuja Methsara of Anuradhapura Academy further 2 strokes behind in third place.
Revaan Amarasinghe playing consistent golf also led the Copper division from the start to finish and be crowned the Copper division champion with a 3 round (9 hole) total of 120, 11 strokes clear of second placed Yuvan Rathis Kanth on 131 and third placed Danik Daluwatte on 142.
The advent of students from Ananda College to competitive golf and some talented kids in the Copper division age group category of 9 & under performing creditably in their very first tournament augurs well for the future.
Prima Sunrise Bread has been the principal sponsor of the Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship since 2010.
The Chief Guest was Suresh Subramaniam President of the National Olympic Committee Sri Lanka.
Subramaniam thanked all parents for supporting their children to play golf. Speaking on the occasion he said that the Youth Olympic Games in 2026 should be the target to train the youth of today and win medals for Sri Lanka.
Niloo Jayathilaka, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Junior Golf, said that the standard of golf displayed was excellent and the talent of the new juniors was a welcome breath of fresh air. She commended the many sponsors who came forward to promote golf especially in Anuradhapura and among other school students too.
Sajith Guneratne the Guest of Honour representing Prima Sunrise Bread presented the main awards.
Final Results:
Gold Division Boys:
Junior Champion – K. Dhanushan 215
1st Runner-up – Nirekh Tejwani 220
2nd Runner up - Yannik Kumara 222
3rd Runner-up – G.G. Sankanath Hesara 246
Gold Division Girls
Champion – Kaya Daluwatte – 209
1st Runner-up –Sherin Balasooriya 237
2nd Runner-up –Dhevinka Iswaran 241
3rd Runner-up –Danushi Wanasinghe 280
Silver Division Boys & Girls Combined
Champion Silver Division: Reshan Algama 206
1st Runner-up - Thejas Kanth 230
2nd Runner-up – Adithya Weerasinghe (A’pura) – 231
3rd Runner-up – Jacob Norton 239
Bronze Division Boys & Girls Combined
Winner – Kaitlyn Norton 273
1st Runner-up – Saqeeb Zuhar 276
2nd Runner-up – Anuja Methsara 278
3rd Runner-up – Yehansa Senanayake 283
Copper Division boys & girls Combined
Winner – Revaan Amarasinghe 120
2nd Place – Yuvan Kanth 131
3rd Place – Danik Daluwatte 142
4th Place – Mihneli Herath 198
5th Place – Richard Magala 203