Reshan and Kaya in sensational form in Hambantota

Tuesday, 22 October 2024 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

The third and final day of the Prima Sunrise Bread Regional Junior Golf Championship, held at the scenic Shangri-La, Hambantota, saw a thrilling and dramatic conclusion as left-handed golfer Reshan Algama staged an extraordinary comeback to defend his championship title.

In the Girls’ segment, it was a one-horse race with Kaya Daluwatte winning convincingly.

Having trailed by five shots after the first round, Reshan finished with a lead, showing remarkable determination and skill, claiming a victory for the second consecutive time following his earlier win at the Kandy Regional.

Reshan’s performance was nothing short of spectacular with his iron play a remarkable pleasure to watch. After a difficult first day, when he posted a score of 80, he bounced back on the second day with a superb 67, leaving him five shots clear of his competitors. On the final day, he maintained his composure, playing smart and strategic golf to shoot a round of 74, ultimately securing a well-deserved win with a total of 221.

His victory was by a margin of four shots over Yannik Kumara, who finished second with a total of 225, and with Adithya Weerasinghe from Anuradhapura in third place on a count back from Jevahn Sathasivam. Jevahn led day one in the tournament. Weerasinghe put up a notable performance to come third in the Gold Division, beating seasoned Gold Division players like Jacob Norton, Kian Niyarepola, and Pranav Muralidaran.

In the Girls’ Gold Division, Kaya Daluwatte set a new standard for Sri Lankan junior golf, with a stunning performance across all three days.

Kaya, who has been gaining experience through international competitions, demonstrated her superiority by finishing with an incredible 70-stroke lead over her nearest competitor.

Her rounds of 69, 69, and 73 culminated in a total score of 211, far ahead of second place finisher Sithara Lorance (281) and third place Kaitlyn Norton (282), who also had a good tournament.

The tournament also saw fantastic performances across the other divisions. In the Silver Division (Boys 13-14), Kaveesha Sadaruwan claimed the top spot with a total score of 290, followed by Lithum Silva (317) and Aditha Mithsara (377).

The Bronze Division (Boys 11-12) witnessed Lavidu Premarathna coming out on top with a total of 172, edging out Revaan Amarasinghe (175) who finished in second position.

Meanwhile, in the Copper Division (Boys 9 and Under), Abiman Abeywardhana took first place with a score of 114, closely followed by Jaeden Sathasivam and Yuvan Rathis Kanth. Jaeden won this segment in his last four appearances, twice each in Colombo and Kandy.

The Prima Sunrise Bread Regional Junior Championship remains a critical stepping stone for many young golfers, helping them hone their skills and showcase their talents on a national platform. With the dedication of sponsors and organisers, the Junior Sub Committee at Sri Lanka Golf (SLG), junior golf in Sri Lanka has reached a different level, with five divisions being won by Anuradhapura junior golfers – a remarkable achievement by these players changing the competitive landscape of the sport.