Taniya Balasuriya and Nirekh Tejwani emerged girls and boys junior golf champions respectively at the Sri Lanka Open Junior Open Golf Championship that was held over three days at the Ridgeways course in Colombo recently.
Balasuriya the leading junior girl golfer played excellently once again to obtain a final round score of 82 to win by eight strokes. Her closest rival was Kayla Perera who finished as runner-up.
Nirekh Tejwani was 2-under par going into the final round after 14 holes dropped nine shots in the last four holes but finished on top in the end of the 54-hole championship. He was nine strokes clear of runner-up Yannik Kumara.
A definite future star K. Danushan captured the boys Silver division for age category 12 to 14-plus in a canter beating the runner-up Abinev Basker from Bangalore by 16 strokes and third placed Shanal Binushka three strokes behind.
The Bronze Division for age category 10 -11+ boys and girls competing, saw the closest tussle in the Junior Open Championship.
Played over 14 holes per round, Reshan Algama held his nerve throughout the three rounds as Kaya Daluwatte played very courageously stalking Reshan all the way.
However, Reshan did well to hold on to the lead from day one, finally beating Kaya by a comfortable six strokes. However, Kaya earned the runner-up berth ahead of KhvanTejwani nine strokes clear.
In the Copper division for junior boys and girls Age group 9 and under, the winner was Thejas Rathis Kanth by seven strokes from Kaiyen Johnpillai who finished as runner-up.
Over ninety junior golfers from the age groups of 9 to 18 plus, vied for honours representing Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, Navy Junior Golf Academy Welisara, Victoria Golf Academy- Kandy, Anuradhapura Junior Golf Academy, Shangrilla Hambantota Junior Golf and RCGC Junior Golf.
“Taniya Balasuriya is the best example of junior golf laying the foundation to become great and the next target is to win medals at the Asian Games coming-up in China 2021,” said Niloo Jayatilleke Chairperson of Junior Golf Sri Lanka.
Chief Guest the General Manager of Prima Sunrise Bread, Shung Tien Shing said that Prima Ceylon was proud to be associated with the progress and development of junior golf over a period of twelve years, watching the juniors grow and flourish as top potential golfers.
Results:
Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf
Champion Boys:
Winner: Nirekh Tejwani 224 (72, 74, 78)
Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Champion Girls Champion
Winner: Tania Minel Balasuriya 223 (69, 72, 82)
Gold and Silver Division AGE 12 -18+ Girls - 18 Holes 3 rounds
Winner: Tania Minel Balasuriya 223 [69, 72, 82)
Runner-up: Kayla Perera 231(78, 76, 77)
2nd runner-up: Sherin Balasuriya 239 (80, 78, 81)
Gold Division 15 - 18+ Boys - 18 Holes 3 rounds
Winner: Nireth Tejwani 224 (72, 74, 78)
Runner-up: Yannik Kumara 233 (76, 81, 76)
2nd runner-up: Levon Niyarepola 235 (82, 73, 80)
Silver Division 12 - 14+ Boys 18 Holes 3 rounds
Winner: K. Danushan 229 (77, 75, 77)
Runner-up: Abinev Basker (BNGLR) 245 (85, 81, 79)
2nd runner-up: Shanal Binushka 248 (80, 81, 87)
Bronze Division 10 -11+ Boys and Girls - 14 Holes 3 Rounds
Winner: Reshan Alagama 178 (60, 59, 59)
Runner-up: Kaya Daluwatte 184 (64, 57, 63)
2nd runner-up: Kvahn Tejwani 193 (67, 62, 64)
Copper Division under-9 Boys and Girls
Winner: Thejas Rathis Kanth 133 (46, 43, 44))
Runner-up: Kaiyen Johnpillai 140 (47, 47, 46)
2nd runner-up: H. Shenal Nimsith 177 (65, 55, 57)