Keen tussle expected for Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy, resuming after Covid lockdowns
The Sri Lanka Junior Match-Play Golf Championship will tee off this year on the 9th of August at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. This year after the break for Covid lockdowns for 2 years this prestigious junior event is being sponsored by P&S Bakers the family company of the late Ms. Rukmini Kodagoda. The junior match play championship is held yearly in the honour of Rukmini Kodagoda, who won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship in 1979 and several other club tournaments. Ruki as she was popularly known established herself as one of Sri Lanka’s talented sports women having won national titles and represented Sri Lanka in both tennis and golf. In tennis she won the national doubles and mixed doubles titles partnering top players during her era such as Ranjani Jayasuriya, Wendy Molligoda and Bernard Pinto on several occasions. She also held the prestigious position of Chairman Sri Lanka Ladies Golf Union in 1990 and 1991 and Captain of the Ladies Section of the Royal Colombo Golf Club. “ I look forward to the tournament which is a fitting tribute to an inspiring lady who has achieved national colours in two sports and beyond sports an inspiring personality to us all and had the fortune of associating and learning from such large, heartened lady.” Niloo Jayatilake, member Sri Lanka Golf Union – Chairperson Junior Sub Committee.
This tournament throws in a different format for the junior golfers where they have a qualifying round thereafter continue to play match play format like the British Amateur Championship the oldest Match-play event in the world in 1881 and then followed by the Ceylon Amateur Golf Championship, the second oldest Match-play Championship in the world.
The inaugural Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championship was played in 2014 with Prashan Pieris winning the title. The tournament was last held in 2019 due to pandemic situation in the country. The winners in 2019 was Taniya Balasuriya in the girl’s division and S. Dhuwarhan in the boys. Both players are over aged, and we are likely to see new talent emerge at this year’s tournament. Players will compete in four Age Categories Comprising Gold Division (15 -18 years), Silver (12-14 years), Bronze Division (10-11 Years) and Copper Division (9 years & under).
The overall winner of the championship will carry away the Rukmini Kodagoda Challenge Trophy in the boys and girls categories. The tournament format will be based on a qualifying stroke play round for each age category, with the best eight qualifying scores going on to play in the match play knock out finals to determine the Gold, Silver, Bronze & Copper Division winners. However, girls in the Gold & Silver Division and the boys in the Gold Categories will be eligible to vie for the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy and the Title of Junior Boys Champion & Junior Girls Champion respectively.
“P & S Bakers is delighted once again to support Sri Lanka Golf and especially junior golf by creating a competitive platform for the juniors to show their mark. Success in tournaments of this nature will be the steppingstone for international competition.” Gihan Perera, Managing Director of P & S.
