103rd Club Championship at RCGC: Yannik and Kaya at peak

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kaya Daluwatte

Yannik Kumara

There is a saying which goes ‘form is temporary, but class is permanent’ – these are the simple words following 19-year-old Yannik Kumara, who was back in top form at the 103rd Club Championship at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) winning the gents’ event, while Kaya Daluwatte, as usual in a one-horse race for her, securing a win in the ladies’ event. 

This was a board event at the RCGC.

Yannik claimed the gents’ title for the third time after securing the title earlier in 2019 and 2021. At just 14+ years, he won the Club Championship, becoming the second youngest golfer to win the top award.

Yannik got the better of Husni Uwise in the final round to cement his status as the Club’s dominant player. Uwise beat Reshan Algama in the semi-final, while Yannik got the better of Sachin de Silva in the other semi-final encounter.

In the ladies’ event, Kaya Daluwatte emerged victorious, defeating Dhevinka Kanag-Isvaran. Kaya, studying and playing golf in India, was of a different class, winning titles in tandem. The Senior division was won by Harendra De Silva, with Kumar Boralessa finishing as the runner-up. 

The Masters segment saw Lanka Santha take the top spot, while Bandula Weerasinghe came in second place. In the gents’ Bronze category, Adrian Pereira secured the championship, with Rathvan de Livera as the runner-up. The ladies’ Bronze division was won by Dhanushi Wanasinghe, continuing her success at the Perera and Sons Junior event. This win put Deepani Gamage in the runner-up position.

The Silver division for gents saw Abdul Wadood Reza crowned as the champion, with Dihan Dedigama as the runner-up.