The Sri Lanka Junior Golf Match-Play Championship 2023 sponsored by P&S Bakers concluded with 5 excellent Finals played at the RCGC followed by an enthusiastic crowd of parents, players and many members of the Royal Colombo Golf Club.
Eighteen-year-old K. Dhanushan clinched his first Junior Match-Play Golf Championship title defeating 15-year-old Jevahn Sathasivam 3 & 2, which looked comfortable but credit to Jevahn appearing in his first Junior Match-play final kept fighting back being 3 down after 5 holes to 1 down after 8 and 1 down after 13 holes but the experienced Danushan held his nerve to win the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy and the Boys Junior Match-Play Champion title. P&S Bakers also introduced a novel gesture of presenting the Winners ‘Blue Jacket’ to the Boys and Girls Champions 2023. The Blue Jackets were presented by Mr. Avishka Perera Director P&S Bakers and Mr. Prashan Peiris the 1st Winner of the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy in 2014 as the inaugural Junior Match-Play Champion.
Kaya Daluwatte beat the more experienced Sherin Balasuriya in a thrilling finale being All-square on the 18th hole, losing the 18th to Sherin and then in the sudden-death holes halved the 19th, 20th and Kaya clinched the title on the 21st to become the Junior National Girls Champion and take the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy 2023 and also wore the novel ‘Blue Jacket’ presented by the Sponsors P&S Bakers.
H.D. Adithya Weerasinghe from Anuradhapura Golf Academy played consistent Golf throughout the Tournament, having beaten the top seed and finally defeated Kaiyan Johnpillai in an extremely closely fought final in the Boys Silver Division for the age group category 12 – 14+ years on the 19th hole. Kaiyan was leading the finale from the start and went 3 up after 5 holes. Adithya birdied the 6th to be 2 down at the turn then Adithya fought back to be All Square after the 13th, then Kaiyan won the 14th and 15th to be 2 up and Adithya fought back to make the match All Square after the 18th, forcing a sudden-death decider where Adithya showed great spirit to grab the lead where it mattered most on the 19th hole and thus become the Silver Division Champion 2023. Kaiyan is also a great prospect for the future with the immense talent displayed including chipping -in from off the green and making some great Pars’ and Birdies.
Keya Abhayarathne convincingly defeated Kaitlyn Norton 6 & 5 in the final of the Silver Division Girls, age group category 12 – 14+ to be the Silver Division Girls Champ.
Revaan Amarasinghe comfortably won the Boys Bronze Division Final 5 & 4 defeating Yehansa Senanayake. Genuli Abesundara beat Nimasha Dhamli 3 & 2, to win the Bronze Division Girls in an ‘All – Anuradhapura’ final.
Jaeden Sathasivam clinched the Copper Division title in a very close battle beating Yuvan Rathis Kanth 1 up, in the 9+ & under category.
The exciting final matches in the varied categories was followed by a solemn Prize-giving sponsored by P&S Bakers, graced by Mrs. Shanthani Perera, the Chief Guest, President Sri Lanka Golf Mr. Ranil Pieris who spoke on the occasion and also gave away the Girls Champion Trophy along with Mrs. Srima Senevirathne Director P&S Bakers.
Dr. Rohith Silva, Captain RCGC congratulated the winners and thanked the Golfers from Anuradhapura and other visiting golfers for participating in the Championship. Mrs. Usha De Silva, Ms. Dhinuka Boralessa, Mr. Harsha Udawatte, Mr. Chandana Weerasinghe, Mr. Sanjiv Vairavanathan, Vice President SLG, Mr. Leonard Maddumage, Mr. Michael Magala immediate Past President SLG, Dr. Rohith Silva, Ms. Niloo Jayathilaka, together with Ms. Ruvini Kariyawasam, Director P&S Bakers, Mr. Avishka Perera and Mr. Prashan Peiris participated in giving away the awards.
