SL Junior Match Play Championship tees off for Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy

Tuesday, 7 April 2015 01:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The second annual Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Championship started on a positive note with 75 players competing in the qualifying round at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. The sponsor for the event is Perera & Sons Bakers Ltd. The winner of the overall championship would carry away the Rukmini Kodagoda trophy donated by the family in memory of one of Sri Lanka’s most talented sportswomen, a former national tennis and golf champion. In the Open/Gold Division age group for players under 18 years of age, Ishira Fernando was the top qualifier with a gross score of 73 with last year’s winner Prashan Peiris finishing as the nearest challenger with a gross score of 78. The eight to qualify for the match play knockout stage were Ishira Fernando (73), Prashan Peiris (79), Lamindi Rainika (81), Armand Flamer Caldera (83), S. Kailash (84), T. Akash 85, D. Dhanaranjan (87), Hiruna Sigera (88).

In the Silver Division age group for players under 15 years of age, the top spot was taken by Taniya Balasuriya with a brilliant score of 78. The other seven to qualify for the match play stage were S.D. Sathsara (85), Iman Sangani (91), Kehan Allis (101), Dimuthi Fernando (102), Dilshan Malinda (106), Avisha Gunawardena (107), Shaveetha Kohombange (112). In the under 12 age group Bronze Division, which has now been upgraded to a full 18 holes, Kayla Perera’s gross score of 91 ensured that she qualified as the number one seed. The others in the group to show promise and qualify to play the quarterfinal knockout stage were Levon Niyarepola (101), Mahisha Hirushan (101), Amrik Perera (110), Vikash Thangadore (111), Tavin Wijayasinghe (127) and Damin Kotagama (136). The Copper Division, consisting of players under the age of 10, attracted many entries including a few five-year-old hopefuls. The knockout stages of the tournament, to be continued at the RCGC, will now test the mental make-up of the juniors. Much is expected from the top two seeds Ishira Fernando and Prashan Peiris, last year’s winner of the Gold Division and while Taniya Balasuriya (Silver Division) and Kayla Perera (Bronze Division) are the favourites, surprises can and do take place.