Trials for junior golfers: Chanaka Perera leads the way

Chanaka Perera

Taniya Balasuriya

By Shamseer Jaleel

Youngster Chanaka Perera was in sparkling form, ending in the top position at the trials for the junior golfers for the selections of the national and development squads which took place at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) over four days.

Chanaka had an outstanding start with a score of 68 and totalled 285 over the four days of golf. Chalitha Pushpika followed with the second-highest score of 294. Meanwhile another sensational youngster from the Central Hills, Haroon Aslam ended tied at sixth with U. A. Ranasinghe.

Meanwhile, the youngest in the event, 13-year-old Reshan Algama, after an ordinary start, bounced backed during the last three days to secure the 13th position.  In the girls’ event, Taniya Balasuriya had an outstanding four days, ending on top at 295, followed by Kaya Daluwatte (300) and Sheerin Balasuriya (323).

Top 15 amongst the boys were Chanaka Perera (285), Chalitha Pushpika (294), Danusha Perera (297), Januka Dilshan (298), Lamidu Ranika (306), U. A. Ranasinghe and Haroon Aslam (both at 309), K. Danushan, G. Dilranga, and Nirekh Tejwani (all three at 310), Yannik Kumara (311), Roshana Prasad and W. Waidyarathna (both at 314), Reshan Algama (321) and R. Sureshan (322).

Amongst the girls, it was Taniya Balasuriya (295), Kaya Daluwatte (300) and Sheerin Balasuriya (323).