RESHAN ALGAMA STAMPS HIS AUTHORITY AS THE UNDISPUTED JUNIOR NUMBER 1 IN SRI LANKA
Reshan Algama having made his debut with distinction for Sri Lanka at the Bangladesh Amateur Championship earlier this year at the Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka, he has gradually matured as a National Player and at the Sri Lanka Golf Ranking Tournament for July finished in the top five. Following-up on that performance Reshan blew away the field in the Nuwara Eliya Regional Junior Open 2023, played at the petite and beautiful Nuwara-Eliya Golf Club Course over two rounds.
Reshan Algama won the Prima Sunrise Bread Sponsored, Gold Division Category for Boys by 17 strokes from Jevhan Sathasivam in Runner-up position a further 3 strokes ahead of joint third place youngsters Jacob Norton and Pranav Muralitharan.
Reshan was outstanding carding a 2 over par in the 1st Round and an Even Par round in the second round for a total of 144 in the difficult and tricky NEGC Course. Jevahn Sathasivam on 161 clinched the Runner-up place whilst Jacob Norton and Pranav Muralitharan were tied in 3rd place on 164 ahead of NEGC’s Imran Nazeer on 166 to complete the top five in the Boys Gold Division age category of 15 – 18+ years.
It was refreshing to note that the Nuwara-Eliya Regional Junior Open 2023, attracted the highest number of entries since COVID 19, recording participation of 69 entries in the different Age group categories. The continued sponsorship of PRIMA Sunrise Bread, the enthusiasm and support of parents and the activation of the juniors from Anuradhapura Junior Golfers, the Ananda College Junior Golf Club and the juniors from Colombo and the Home Club NEGC ensured the success of the Regional Golf Tournament.
The Gold Division for Girls was won by T. Atshaya of NEGC from Animu Karunathilaka from Colombo, whilst the Silver Division for Boys age category 12 – 14 + years was dominated by Anuradhapura Golfers Janeesh Weerasinghe on 157 Gross over 2 rounds one stroke ahead of Adhithya Weerasinghe a further 3 strokes ahead of joint 3rd placed Thejas Rathis Kanth and Keshav Algama of RCGC on 161, in a very hotly contested age group division with Chandra Kumar Dharaniyan of NEGC taking 5th place.
Ananda College juniors Hirush Pramuditha, Lithira Mendis made their debut at the Regional level in the Gold Division whilst, Lithum Silva,Damsith Meepawala, Aditha Mithsara and Enaal Kumarasinghe debuted in the Silver Division.
The Girls Silver Division was also dominated by the Anuradhapura juniors, Dilini Amarawansa winning the 12 -14+ years age group from Kaitlyn Norton from Colombo followed by Dinuli Manumitha Yahathugoda and Udithma Yasavi from Anuradhapura.
The Bronze Division Age Group 10-11+ years Boys over 2 rounds 14 Holes per round, was won by Yehansa Senanayake from Colombo by a clear 7 strokes from Lavidu Premarathna of Anuradhapura Golf on 157, one stroke ahead of Anuja Methsara on 158 in 3rd place while Udeera Bandara and B.A. Sadaneth all of Anuradhapura occupied 4th and 5th places, followed by the Ananda College debutants Ronal Scofield, Kenul Scofield, S.A.L.G.S. Perera and Haveen Kumarasinghe. Sivakumar Kavinayam of NEGC was placed 8th in the division.
The Bronze Division for Girls was won by Genuli Weerakoon with a Gross aggregate of 199 from Vihara Herath and Nimasha Iddamalgoda all of Anuradhapura Golf Club.
The Age Group 9+ & under over 9 holes and 2 rounds the Winner Yuvan Rathis Kanth was a clear Group Champion with an aggregate of 78, from Jaeden Sathasivam and the rest of the field. Yuvan’s excellent score included an amazing Hole-In-One on the Par 3, 15th Hole Teeing-Off From the special Copper Division Tee. The unique achievement of a Hole-in-One at a such a young age augurs well for Yuvan and we are sure to hear more of him in the future. A special Certificate was awarded to Yuvan Rathis Kanth from the NEGC and the prize was handed over by Mr. K. Prabagaran the Top Professional Golfer from the Nuwara-Elia Golf Club. Mr. Ranjith Kumar, Head of NEGC Junior Golf was also in attendance.
The Copper Division for Girls was won by Ananya Kishanthan of Colombo from Ompragas Thrinayani of Nuwara Eliya.
The Two day Regional Championship was successfully concluded, conducted by Sri Lanka Golf organized by the Junior Golf development Committee and the Prize Giving was graced by the main sponsor of the regional junior golf championships PRIMA SUNRISE BREAD and the Sales Manager Mr. Indika Dissnayake represented the Sponsors and gave away the prizes.
Former Lady Captain of the NEGC Ms. Rohina Macan Markar, a keen golfer from a renowned golfing family involved in Golf for over 5 decades delivered a motivational speech to all the junior golfers and also gave away the prizes in the Girls’ divisions.
Junior Golf is well organized and is certainly setting the platform for the future stars of Sri Lanka Golf.
NUWARA ELIYA REGIONAL JUNIOR GOLF OPEN 2023 RESULTS AT A GLANCE;
GOLD DIVISION BOYS WINNER – RESHAN ALGAMA 144 (73,71)
RUNNER-UP- JEVHAN SATHASIVAM 161 (83,78)
GOLD DIVISION GIRLS WINNER – T. ATSHAYA – R/UP ANUMI KARUNATHILAKA
SILVER DIVISION BOYS WINNER- H. JANEESH WEERASINGHE 157 (80,77)
R/UP – H. ADHITHYA WEERASINGHE 158 (81,77)
SILVER DIVISION GIRLS WINNER – DILINI AMARWANSA – R/UP KAITLYN NORTON
BRONZE DIVISION BOYS WINNER-YEHANSA SENANAYAKE 151 (75,76)
R/UP – LAVIDU PREMARATHNA 157 (76,81)
BRONZE DIVISION GIRLS WINNER-GENULI WEERAKOON R/UP VIHARA HERATH
COPPER DIVISION BOYS WINNER-YUVAN RATHIS KANTH 78 (38,40)
R/UP – JAEDEN SATHASIVAM 107 (48,59)
COPPER DIVISION GIRLS WINNER-ANANYA KISHANTHAN R/UP OMPRAGAS THRINAYAN
