Junior golfers battle for Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy
The Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championship which is the stepping stone for the junior golfers in the both the boys and girls categories which is contested for the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy is scheduled to be held from April 18 to 21 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club golf course.
The championship Inaugurated in 2014 will see Perera & Sons Bakers Ltd coming forward once again sponsor this prestigious event which they will be doing it for the fourth successive year.
The winner of the overall championship would carry away the Rukmini Kodagoda Challenge trophy. This year for the first time the organizers will be conducting the junior girls segment in a separate division.
This would take the tournament to new heights” Gihan Perera, Managing Director of P & S. The qualifying medal round of the championship would be a designated round to accrue points for national junior ranking for the year 2017.
Thus the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy is fast becoming one of the prestigious tournaments in the yearly junior calendar given the exciting format of match play which is one of a kind.
The tournament will be played over four days and will comprise of four age groups as follows: 15-18 years (Overall/gold Division), 12-14 years (Silver Division), 10-11 years (Bronze Division) and 9 years and under (Copper Division)
The manner of play would be based on a qualifying stroke play round whereby the best eight qualify to play match play knock out at quarters, semi and final stages. There would be many prizes on offer such as best gross score on qualifying round and plate winner for non- qualifiers on day two best gross score. We are likely to see new talent blossom among the juniors who show aptitude for match play format. The junior match play championship is a fitting tribute to Rukmini Kodagoda who won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship in 1979 and several other club tournaments.
Ruki as she was popularly known established herself as one of Sri Lanka’s talented sports women having won national titles and represented Sri Lanka in both tennis and golf.
She also held the prestigious position of Chairperson Sri Lanka Ladies Golf Union in 1990 and 1991 and Captain of the Ladies Section of the Royal Colombo Golf Club. “This tournament has helped to raise the standard of junior golf and enabled these youngsters to achieve a way of mental toughness required for the format of match play.
It is likely that we could see the development of future champions in the sport said Niloo Jayatilake, member Sri Lanka Golf Union — Chairperson Junior Sub Committee. Niloo briefing the media said that In the boys category we are likely to see Vinod Weerasinghe, Arrnand Fiamer Caldera, P. A Dimuthu from Kandy, S Duwarshan from Nuwara Eliya, Yannik Kumara, brothers Nirekh and Kvahn Tejwani and K. Danushan compete for top honours in the respective age group categories.
Among the junior girls much is expected from Taniya Balasuriya and Kayla Perera. The prize giving is scheduled to be held on April 21.