Sri Lanka Junior Match Play on April 18 to 21
Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championships is scheduled for April 18 to 21. This annual event inaugurated in year 2014, played for the Rukmani Kodagoda trophy has attracted many youngsters and has been very competitive. Once again this tournament will be sponsored by Perera and Sons Bakers Ltd, for the third consecutive year. The winner of the overall championship, will carry away the, Rukmani Kodagoda challenge trophy.
The qualifying medal round of the championship would be a designated round for national junior ranking for the year 2016 introduced recently. Thus this tournament scheduled for the year, and popular given the match play format which is one of a kind. The Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) is, focused on developing a young pool of golfers below 14 years. The tournament will be played over four days, and will comprise four age groups.
- 15-17 years -Overall / Gold Division
- 12-14 years-Silver Division
- 10-11 years-Bronze Division
- 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. 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. The bottom line is 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 Rukmani Kodagoda, who won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship in 1979 and several other club tournaments. She established herself as one of Sri Lanka’s talented sports women having won national titles and represented Sri Lanka in both golf and tennis. She also held the prestigious position of Chairperson Sri Lanka Ladies Golf Union in 1990 and 1991. This year there will be stiff competition from young players like, Armand Flamer Caldera, D. Dhanranjan , S. Flamin, Januka Dilshan, Tien Kapilasena, Nirekh Tejwani and Sathsara Dilshan in their respective age group categories.