Sri Lanka clinch inaugural HSBC International Junior Golf C’ship

Sri Lanka Juniors beat Pakistan Juniors in a thrilling finish to emerge champions of the inaugural HSBC International Junior Golf Championship, played in Ryder Cup Match-Play format, at the spectacular Royal Colombo Golf Club recently.

The inaugural international junior event was organized by the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU), sponsored by HSBC and Co-sponsored by MAS Kreeda (clothing sponsor), Cinnamon Hotels (accommodation sponsor), IMORICH (indulgence sponsor), Olu Water (Beverage sponsor) and Callaway (Equipment sponsor).

The HSBC International Junior Golf Championship commenced with the individual event attracting 100 entries, in 04 age Group Categories laying the platform for the Team Championships the following day.

The SLGU international two member team championship on stroke play including Bangladesh (02 teams), Pakistan and Sri Lanka fielding 03 teams was worked off in the morning session.

The Pakistan Junior boys dominated the two member stroke play Team Championship winning the SLGU Junior International Team Championship with the ‘A’ Team comprising Ahmed Baig (70) and Saqib (77) with an aggregate gross score of 147, five strokes clear of Pakistan ‘B’ comprising Damil Ataulla (77) and Junaid Irfan (75) whilst 3rd place went on to the Sri Lankan pair of Januka Dilshan (74) and T. Akash (79).

However, in the afternoon session, Pakistan faced Sri Lanka in a Match-play showdown to determine the Team Champions.

The six member teams comprising of four junior boys and two junior girls representing Pakistan and Sri Lanka played six singles and Sri Lanka won quite comprehensively in the end by 4.5 points to 1.5 points out of a maximum 06 points. Nonetheless, the final was gallantly fought out to the final hole, which was a closer battle than the final margin of victory. Sri Lankan Team captain Januka Dilshan registered the first points for the team with a comfortable 5 and 3 win over Saqib, whilst Kayla Perera recorded the biggest margin of victory defeating Rimsha Ijaz 6 and 5. Armand Flamer Caldera registered a narrow but emphatic 1up victory over Damil Ataulla, whilst Vinod Weerasinghe made a birdie on the 18th to halve his match against Junaid Irfan, having been 1 down playing the last hole.

Taniya Minel Balasuriya was made to fight for her victory all the way by Suneya Osama who sank some amazing putts throughout the game to hold Taniya to All Square playing the 18th. Taniya held her nerve whilst making several 3 putts and eventually won the 18th despite another 3 putt to seal the final flight with a 1up win for Sri Lanka.

The thrilling Match Play final was followed by an enthusiastic crowd and it could be said that the junior golfers set the golf course ablaze, with a most entertaining finale to the Inaugural HSBC Junior Golf Team Championship.

The Awards Ceremony was enlivened with the presence of distinguished invitees representing the principal sponsors, Mark Prothero (CEO HSBC), who presented the HSBC Sri Lanka International Junior Team Golf Championship Trophy and

medals to the Winners and Runner-up team members.

SLGU officials and representatives from the sponsors gave away the trophies.

 

Results:

International Team Championship

Winners: Sri Lanka (4.5 points),

Runner-up: Pakistan (1.5 points)

Sri Lanka Golf Union Junior Golf Team Championship 2017

Winners: Pakistan 1 (Ahmed Baig 70, Saqib 77, Aggregate 147), 2. Pakistan 2 (Damil Ataulla 77, Junaid Irfan 75, Aggregate 152), 3. Sri Lanka 1 (J. K. Januka Dilshan 74, T. Akash 79, Aggregate 153)

Individual Events:

Gold Division Boys (Age Group 15-18 years) - Winner: Ahmed Baig (Pak) 73 Gross, 2. Saqib (Pak) 74 Gross, 3. Januka Dilshan (SL) 75 Gross

Silver Division Boys (Age Group 12 – 14 years): Winner: Damil Ataulla (Pak) 80 Gross, 2. Dilshan Malinda 85 Gross (Count back), 3. K. Danushan 85 Gross

Gold/Silver combined Division Girls (Age Group 15-18+) and (Age Group 12 – 14+): Winner: Taniya Minel Balasuriya (78 Gross), 2. Kayla Perera (79 Gross), 3. Nashima Akhter (Ban) (82 Gross)

Bronze Division (Age Group 10 – 11+ years) 14 Holes: Winner: Nirekh Tejwani (63 Gross), 2.Pranav Muralidaran 73 Gross (count back), 3. Shanal Binushka (73 Gross)

Copper Division (Age Group 9+ & under) 09 Holes: Winner: Reshan Algama (44 Gross), 2.Shinuka Fernando 47 Gross (count back), 3. Kaya Daluwatte (47 Gross)

HSBC Premier category winners

Gold Division Boys/Girls Premier Junior Winner (Age Group 15-18+) - Vihan De Alwis

Silver Boys/Girls Junior Premier Winner (Age Group 12 – 14+) - Kayla Perera

Bronze Junior Premier Winner (Age Group 10–11+) – Nirekh Tejwani

Copper Junior Premier Winner (Age Group 9+ & under) - Reshan Algama

The Best Overall Premier Junior Golfer for 2017 - Armand Flamer Caldera

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