Taniya Minel wins unique double
Taniya Minel, the newfound jewel in local golf
Fifteen-year-old Taniya Minel Balasuriya completed a unique double of winning the Sri Lanka Ladies National Title and the Ladies Stroke play Championship played concurrently for the first time, with participation of the Pakistan National team.
A delighted Taniya Minel said “I am so happy to win the National Title especially overcoming Thuhashini in the Final, especially because she was the youngest to win a National Title and enter the Guinness Record Book”.
After receiving her trophies Taniya played a glowing tribute to her Coach Jehan De Saram for his guidance and also thanked the members of the Royal Colombo Golf Club for the opportunity and support extended to her in her progress since she started Golf four years ago. Thuhashini Selvaratnam playing at the RCGC since 2000, commented on the improvement of the Greens and the Royal Colombo Course and was gracious in defeat “ Taniya played excellent Golf and she definitely has potential, she needs to keep playing more and more and develop her game to reach international professional level, by gaining more distance too”.
Taniya beat Thuhashini Selvaratnam 8 and 6 in the 36 hole final of the Sri Lanka Ladies Open Amateur Golf Championship 2017, to capture her first National Title.
Taniyacompleted a sensational week, virtually making a clean sweep of the Major Trophies. The Final of the Ladies Amateur Championship was expected to be an enthralling close match, but Taniya Minel didn’t allow the pressure of a major final get to her and playing steady Golf in the Morning 18 Holes, notched up a comfortable 6 up lead. The experienced Thuhashini never gave up, but Taniya played Par golf in the afternoon to add two more holes to her morning lead and complete a famous victory by 8 & 6, to record her first National Title Win.
Earlier in the week Taniya Minel annexed the Sri Lanka Ladies Open Stroke play Golf Championship 2017, sponsored by ‘The Abhayaratne family’ in memory of the Late Malin Abhayaratne, Past President Sri Lanka Golf Union.
Taniya Minel also won the Pin Fernando Trophy for the Best Aggregate Net Score over 2 Rounds, with a Net 135, clear of the Runner-up Anouk Chitty on 143 Net.
The International Team Event was won by Sri Lanka with a Team Gross of298 over 2 Rounds.
In the Bronze Category Eliane Sterchi beat Niranjalee Amarasuriya to Win the F B De Mel Challenge Cup presented by Ms. Rohini De Mel.
The Nuwara Eliya Cup for the 3 Round Aggregate Net Score was won by Taniya Minel with a Total of 204 from Anouk Chitty Net 215.
The Bronze Cup for Ladies with a Handicap of 20 and above was won by Kumari Herath with a Net aggregate of 312 from Fran De Mel Net 315.