Prashan takes Rukmani Kodagoda Trophy
View(s):South paw Prashan Peiris pipped out Ishira Fernando while leading most of the way in the 18-hole final to grab the inaugural Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Championship at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC).
The four-round championships was keenly contested by the two youngsters who played excellent golf and displayed their utmost potential, as next generation professionals. Eventual winner Prashan and his closest rival Ishira justified on why they are being tagged as top golfers amongst the more seasoned amateurs.
Srima Seneviratne, a family member of Rukmani Kodagoda, presents the championship trophy to winner Prashan Peiris
Ishira, the eventual loser, was a bit more inconsistent. He mixed brilliant birdies with unforgivable three putts. But Prashan never gave up nor allowed him to get more than two up at any stage. He hit a bogey and then followed up with a double bogey at the 16th and 17th holes, giving Prashan the ultimate break he was awaiting to hold one up into the final hole and become the first winner of the Rukmani Kodagoda Trophy, which is also historical in Sri Lankan golf.
Prashan not only showed maturity on the course by keeping cool and striking at the right time but off the course as well. He made a winner’s speech after receiving his trophy which was well received and acknowledged by the fraternity.
The Silver Division for age group 11 to 14+ provided a humdinger of a final match where a certain winner could not be determined until the end. Here too the favourite and top seed Sathsara Dilshan was finally toppled by Hiruna Sigera, at the 20th in a sudden death situation, when the match ended all square at the 18th and halved at the 19th. Both these youngsters have been groomed in the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) Junior Development squad as their parents are registered caddies at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and have been given special playing rights by the members of the RCGC.
No quarter was given and none asked in the final of the Bronze Division for age group under 10+ where another SLGU Junior Development Squad Member Manisha Hirushan knocked out the last girl left in the tournament Kayla Perera, 2/1 to make it to the victor’s podium.
“The match play format has added a nice new dimension to junior golf in Sri Lanka said Lal Dias President of SLGU at the prize distribution ceremony. The championship was sponsored by Perera and Sons.