The Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship 2012 will be held from December 19 to 21 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC).
Being the most prominent tournament for the young golfers in the country, more than 60 girls and boys players are expected to take part in this year’s championship. Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) will conduct the tournament.
Girls and boys under the age of 18 years will battle it out for the supremacy in three age groups, namely 15-17 years (Gold division), 11-14 years (Silver division) and 10 years and under (Bronze division). The overall winner will be declared the Sri Lanka Junior National Golf Champion for the year 2012.
Sri Lanka Junior Golf first played in 1962 at the 9 Hole Havelock Golf Club Course home at the current BMICH Conference Hall property, was a 18 Hole 1 Round stroke play won by DrukiMartenstyn nee Fernando the first born of the late Champions Pin and Pam Fernando. Subsequently the Havelock Golf Course was taken over and all the members joined The Ridgeways at the RCGC and the Junior Open became the Maple Leaf Trophy for many years and some of the early winners were Ana Punchihewa,Dirk Flamer Caldera,Current RCGC Captain Priath Fernando among others.
As the years progressed in the 80’s Richard Peiris Co. Ltd sponsored the Arpico Junior Open for Young Golfers including Ball-boys and caddy’s children open to the Age Group 18 and Under over 3 Rounds. Prizes were awarded to different age group categories encouraging kids below 10 years to take part too. From the early days winners, TissaChandradasa who is now a Teaching Pro, played for Sri Lanka and as a Pro became the Top rated Amateur in Dubai and held his own in Asia.
Lalith Kumara won in 1995,1996 and went on to win the Indian Amateur in 2000 and 2004. MithunPerera making ripples in the Indian and Asian Tour now, won consecutively 3 years in 2002,2003 and 2004. BinupaWijesinghe winner in 2005 is now pursuing Higher studies combined with a Golf Scholarship in the United States. The 2011 winner Dhanika De Silva is currently also in the States. Last year the Junior Open growing in stature showed up a Gem and a real star in the shape of stockily built 16 year old Kyle De Silva domiciled in the State of California with his parents Saliya and Samantha De Silva with their roots in Sri Lanka.
The tournament will serve as a talent search, where SLGU will identify youngsters with potential to be moulded as national players in future.
