Vinod clinches national junior title at Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship

Fifteen-year-old Vinod Weerasinghe of British School Colombo played brilliant golf on the last day, to catch up four shots under tremendous pressure to take the coveted national title at the Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship 2016, which concluded at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

He shot 78, 79, and 74 over the three rounds, playing 18 over par. Armand Flamer Caldera pipped Taniya Balasuriya on the last day score of gross 78, playing 22 over par over the three rounds to be runner-up. Taniya, who was the overnight leader, had to settle for third place in the age group category 15-17 years (Gold Division) with same 22 over par total score of 235 but losing on the last days card.

From left: Senior Marketing and Senior Business Manager Ceylon Agro Industries Prima Group Sajith Gunaratne, Captain Royal Colombo Golf Club Premal Wijenayake, General Manager Ceylon Agro Industries Shung Tien Shing, the winners, Chairperson Junior Sub Committee Niloo Jayatilake and President Sri Lanka Golf Union Priath Fernando

In the Silver Division (age group category 12-14 years) playing 18 holes, Kayla Perera proved her class by winning the division by 18 shots over her closest rival with an aggregate score of 240. Dilshan Malinda took second place with an aggregate gross score of 258, closely followed by Dhuwarshan on total gross score of 259. The fourth place went to Mahisha Hirushan with aggregate score of 263. We are likely to see the progress of Kayla in the coming years with the maturity as a fine girl golfer.

The Bronze Division (age group category 10-11 years) playing 14 holes we saw Yannik Kumara outclass NirekhTejwani to take a comfortable win by six shots with a total score of 182. Nirekh Tejwani totalled 188 after three rounds followed by Sherin Balasuriya on a total aggregate gross score of 200, and in fourth place K. Danushan on 202. We saw much competition in this category on the final day and these juniors show much promise for national representation in the years ahead.

The event was conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union, the national body for golf in Sri Lanka, and sponsored by Prima Sunrise Bread. General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries Shun Tien Shing, promoters of Prima Sunrise Bread, gave away the main awards. The age group category prizes were given by Senior Business Manager and Marketing Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries Prima Group Sajith Gunaratne, President of The Sri Lanka Golf Union Priath Fernando, Vice President Sri Lanka Golf Union Johnny De Saram andCaptain of the Royal Colombo Golf Premal Wijenayake.

From left: Armand Flamer Caldera, Vinod Weerasinghe, Kayla Perera, Yannik Kumara, Shanal Binuksha

Results:

Gold Division (age group 15-17 years)

Vinod Weerasinghe – 231

Armand Flamer Caldera – 235 L/B/C

Taniya Balasuriya – 235

M. Hiruna – 247

Silver Division (age group 12-14 years)

Kayla Perera – 240

Dilshan Malinda – 258

Dhuwarshan – 259

Mahisha Hirushan – 263

Bronze Division (age group 10-11 years)

Yannik Kumara – 182

NirekhTejwani – 188

Sherin Balasuriya – 200

K. Danushan – 202

Copper Division (age group 9 and under)

Shanal Binuksha – 95

Kvahn Tejwani – 96

Musa Shariff – 107

T. Deshan – 108

Shean Markus – 112