Yannik Kumara and Kaya Daluwatte win Junior Open Golf titles

Yannik Kumara and Kaya Daluwatte won the boys’ and girls’ Gold Division titles respectively at the 13th Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship concluded at the Royal Colombo Golf Course on December 21.

Yannik Kumara was fresh after winning the100th Royal Colombo Open Men’s club championship and was in no mood to let his guard down and cantered over the finish line with impressive scores of 69,69,and 69 to be six under in the Gold Division. Nirekh Tejwani was placed second. Young Tejwani, a vastly improved golfer returned a card of 72,73, and 71. The third place was secured by K. Dhanushan returning scores of 71,71, and 77.

In the girls’ category, Kaya Daluwatte, romped home easily with scores of 74,72 and 77 to win the Gold Division for girls, 16 shots ahead of her closest rival Sherin Balasuriya, who returned cards of 78,82 and 79. Third position was secured by Devinka Kanag-Iswaran 90,90 and 89.

While Reshan Algama won the Silver Division, Thejas Rathis Kanth and Revaan Amarasinghe were the winners of the Bronze and Copper Divisions respectively.

The 13th Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championships organized by Sri Lanka Golf Union and sponsored by Prima Sunrise Bread was conducted at Royal Colombo Golf Course over three days. “Despite the setback of junior golfers being unable to practice due to Covid 19, the golf dished out was of a high standard,” the Sri Lanka Golf Union said in a statement.

Prima Sunrise Bread has sponsored the Junior Golf Open for the 13th consecutive year underscoring their commitment and importance in promoting golf amongst juniors in Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka Golf owes a great deal to Prima Sunrise Bread for supporting Junior Golf in Sri Lanka through the years. Young golfers continue to rise- up to the challenge and lift their game as evidenced over the past 13 years. We thank Shan Tien Shing, General Manager of Prima who has been a tower of strength to us as well as Sajith Gunaratne, Dep. General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries (Prima Group) for his unstinted assistance,” Niloo Jayatilleke, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Golf Junior Sub Committee was quoted as having said.

“Golf in Sri Lanka is on an upward trend as seen by the performances of the juniors. The future tournaments culminating with the Junior Olympics in 2026 is a milestone for these young golfers to have in mind. I am confident that our golfers will continue to do well. Our thanks go out to Prima Group,” Michael Perera Magala, President Sri Lanka Golf Union was quoted as having said.

Shan Tien Shing, Michael Perera Magala, Ranil Peiris and Lal Wickrematunge gave away the awards.

Sai Kasturiratne and Brig. Nanda Hathurusinghe (retd), were the referees in attendance.