Finalists set to do battle for Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy

Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championship 

In the Gold Division on day 3 of the Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championship 2017, the finalists made the cut to battle it out for the coveted Rukmini Kodgoda Trophy and the Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Champion title. 

In this division of boys 18 years and below, Vinod Weerasinghe overcame stiff competition from Armand Flamer Caldera to win the game 3/1. Both players showed much promise and being long off the tees they battled it out with good play and ultimately Weerasinghe won on the putts. In the final, past champion Weerasinghe is looking to go for his second consecutive win. T. Akash had a narrow 1 up win over Vihan De Alwis, after Vihan was three up on the turn but careless play cost him the match. In the final, top seed Akash will take on last year’s winner Weerasinghe.

In the girls’ open Taniya Minel beat Binaara Dias 9/7 and Anelka Desinghe beat Kiyara Dunuwilla 4/3. Minel goes out as hot favourite to win the coveted title.

In the Silver Division age group of players under 15 years, top seed Dilshan Malinda beat S.D.M. Hirushan 4/2 and S. Dhuwarshan (NEGC) beat Haroon Aslam 7/5. Emerging talent was evident in the Bronze Division age group of 12 years and below with Yannik Kumara playing regulation golf to secure the win over Shanal Binuksh 2/1. Though he was defeated we are likely to see Binuksh’s talent blossom in the future as he was the youngest player in this age group. In the second semifinal, Nirekh Tejwani trounced K. Danushan 6/5. 

In the most junior category of nine years and under (Copper Division), Kaya Daluwatta played consistent golf to beat Kvahn Tejwani 3/2 and long-hitting Reshan Algama beat C. Dharaniyan 3/2. The match was played over nine holes. We are likely to see much competition in the final between two evenly-matched players Daluwatta and Algama. The final day of play will see the prize distribution hosted by the sponsor Perera and Sons Bakers Ltd. The tournament is organised by the Sri Lanka Golf Union. The plate winners are as follows:

Gold Division (Under 19 years) - S. Sanju 87

Silver Division (Under 15 years) – not awarded

Bronze Division (Under 12 years) – M.H. Hiruna Sathsara 92 B/B

Copper Division (9 years and under) – Akira Yatawara 57