Pakistani Ahmed Baig clinches Best Individual Trophy
Long hitting Pakistani, Ahmed Baig returned an excellent 2 over par 73 in the opening round of the first-ever Sri Lanka Junior international Championship to clinch the Best Individual Trophy, by one stroke from team mate Saqib, Gross 74 and Januka Dilshan, the Sri Lanka team captain was second runner-up, another stroke away on Gross 75.
The Girls’ category combining the Gold and Silver Division was won by Taniya Minel Balasuriya with a 78, one stroke ahead of Kayla Perera on 79, with Nashima Akhter of Bangladesh gaining the second runner-up berth with a Gross 82. In the Silver Division for Boys 12 to 14 and over age category, Damil Ataulla of Pakistan won with a 80 Gross from Dilshan Malinda who was the runner-up on a count back tied with, K. Danushan and S. Dhuwarshanon Gross 85.
The team that represented Sri Lanka
Nirekh Tejwani was a clear winner in the Bronze Division 10 to 11 and over age group category played over 14 holes, returning a Gross 63 (8 over par) 10 strokes ahead of the runner-up Pranav Muralidharan who edged out Shanal Binushka and Sherin Mithara on a count back tied on 73 Gross.
The Copper Division for Boy’s and Girls’ age group of 9 and under, saw Reshan Algama win by a comfortable three strokes from Shunuk Fernando and Kaya Daluwatte, with a gross score of 44 over 9 holes. The HSBC International Junior Golf Team Championship will teed off at the RCGC following the Flag Hoisting Ceremony to mark the inaugural Junior International Golf Championship sponsored by HSBC. Pakistan and Sri Lanka were to meet in the final of the HSBC International Team Championship, whilst nine two-member teams vied for the Sri Lanka Golf Union Junior Team Championship, representing Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The inaugural Junior International Golf Championship augurs well for the future of Golf with the best of Juniors’ in the South Asian region competing from a tender age in preparation of future stardom.
The HSBC Junior International Golf championship was supported by several prestigious event partners — Cinnamon Life as the hospitality partner providing accommodation to all the international teams, MAS Kreeda as the Apparel partner, provided sportswear for the grass root programme. IMORICH from Elephant House has come forward as the indulgence partner while Olu Water supported the event as the official beverage provider together with Callaway Golf, the renowned Golf brand as the equipment sponsor.
The HSBC Sri Lanka International Junior Golf Championship got underway at the RCGC Ridgeways Golf Course, with the inaugural individual event attracting 100 entries in four different age categories.
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