Taniya secures leaderboard position, SL Junior Open Golf

A close tussle between two very junior golfers, Shanal Binuksha and Kvahn Tejwani, was evident in the most junior category 9 years and under (Copper Division). 

Shanal played consistent golf over two days to card scores of gross 46 and 49 playing 9 holes to take the plum title. He won by 1 shot from Kvahn who scored gross 49 and 47. Closely followed by Musa Shariff of Kandy taking 3rd place (gross 56,51), T. Deshan 4th place (gross 58,50) and Shean Markus 5th place (gross 57, 55).

The Bronze Division (age group category 10 – 11 years) playing 14 holes saw Yannik Kumara take a comfortable lead after second days play with total score of 120 (gross 62, 58), followed by Nirekh Tejwani who dropped shots in the second round but remained in second position with total score of 126. SherinBalasuriya 67, 68 and K. Danushan 68, 67 despite playing consistent golf remains in third position with total score of 135. Much competition is expected in this category on the final day.

In the Silver Division (age group 12-14 yrs) playing 18 holes, Kayla Perera took the lead with a four over par round off red tees with total aggregate score of 160 (gross 84, 76). She is going into the final day with an easy lead of eleven shots from Dilshan Malinda on second place with 171 (gross 90, 81). S. Sanju and Mahisha Hirushan both in third place with total aggregate score of 172. 

In the main championship Gold division (age group 15-17 yrs) Taniya Balasuriya surged ahead from the first day leaders to secure the top spot after carding a brilliant one over par round of gross 73. She displayed super ball contact and touch on the greens to prove her contention with the boys in the category with two day scores of 81, 73, closely followed by consistent play by both Armand Flamer Caldera and Vinod Weerasinghe with gross 78, 79 over the two days. The final grouping on the final day will be the trio with Taniya having the advantage of three shots over Armand and Vinod. We are likely to see a fitting final to select the national junior champion for 2016. 

This event is conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union, the national body for golf in the country, and sponsored by Prima Sunrise Bread for the ninth consecutive year and providing nutrition for all players during the tournament. The final day of play and prize distribution ceremony is scheduled for Friday at the Royal Colombo Golf Club at 1 p.m.