Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship 2015 begins

The Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship sponsored by Prima Sunrise Bread for the eighth consecutive year, teed off at the Royal Colombo Golf Club on a high note. There were over 75 junior golfers who played during the morning time. It is the most prestigious tournament for young golfers in Sri Lanka and this year we saw participation from Kandy and Nuwara Eliya with the success of the regional junior golf programs popularising the sport in the country. The event is conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union according to four age group categories and the championship is open to players from any age group category but playing 18 holes over the three days off championship tees. 

In the age group category 15-17 years (Gold Division) Januka Dilshan carded a brilliant score of 72 to take the lead, closely followed by Dhana Ranjan from Kandy on 74 and Prashan Peiris on 79. The others to show promise were T. Akash on 82, Sathsara Dilshan on 83, Armand Flamer Caldera on 84 and Darren Hall on 84. Taniya Balasuriya and Vinod Weerasinghe showed their class by carding 78 and 79 respectively on day one of the championship in the age group category 12-14 years (Silver Division). The newly introduced age group category 10 – 11 years (Bronze Division) playing 13 holes we saw Nigel Fernando from overseas take the lead with a score of 62, followed by both K. Danushan and Yannik Kumara on 64. Also young juniors who showed promise in the this category and likely to pose an upset in the next stages of the tournament are Levon Niyarepola 69, Sherin Balasuriya 72, Tienn Kapilasena 73 In the most junior category of nine years and under (Copper Division), we saw Nirekh Tejwani card a brilliant score of 44 playing nine holes. Possible challengers being Shanak Binuksha on 51 and Pranav Muralidaran on 54, Yun Gu Kang on 56 and Shenuk Fernando on 60. The overall winner will be declared the Sri Lanka Junior National Golf Champion for the year 2015. Prima Sunrise is the main sponsor of this tournament and will provide nutrition for all players during the tournament. The prize distribution ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at the Royal Colombo Golf Club at 1.30 p.m.