Golf: Taniya Minel wins Ladies Stroke Play Championship by 12 strokes

Taniya Minel Balasuriya (15), playing with the confidence of a professional golfer, returned a stunning 4 under par final round score to cruise to a 12 stroke comfortable victory to capture the Sri Lanka Ladies Open Stroke play Golf Championship 2017, sponsored by the “Abhayaratne Family” in Memory of Malin Abhayaratne, Past President of Sri Lanka Golf Union.

Taniya Minel playing in the leader's flight along-side past winners of the Ladies Open Stroke play Championship and the Sri Lanka Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship, Anouk Chitty and Thuhashini Selvaratnam, displayed excellent composure, cool temperament and brilliant golf to be 3 under par after the 9th hole, fired two more birdies to be 5 under par after the 15th hole but dropped a stroke to end on 4 under par 68, for a 54 Hole Total of Even Par to Win the Ladies Open Stroke play Championship 2017. 

Taniya's performance at her tender age, is also probably the best 54 hole Aggregate Gross Score returned in the Ladies Stroke play Championship history.

The incredible performance of Taniya over the 3 Rounds is further emphasized by the fact that she has also returned the Best Aggregate Nett Score of 204, which is 11 strokes clear of the next best aggregate net score returned.

The Sri Lanka Open Ladies Amateur Championship 2017, now gets in to Match-play mode and the Top Eight Qualifiers will vie for the Amateur Championship Title, with the Quarter Final Stage on Friday (9) and the semi-final and final to be played on Saturday (10) and Sunday (11) respectively. 

Taniya will be the Top Seed with Anouk, Thuhashini, Yassmin and Ijaz Rimsha seeded accordingly for the match-play segment.

Final Standings 

216: Taniya Minel Balasuriya (73, 75, 68)

233: Anouk Chitty (78, 76, 79)

241: Thuhashini Selvarartnam (83, 79, 79)

245: Yassmin Ghazala (81, 84, 80)

246: Ijaz Rimsha (82, 86, 78)

279: Suwen Selvaratnam (91, 96, 92)