The Sri Lanka Junior Match-Play Golf Championship a feature Sri Lanka Junior Golf Calendar Tournament conducted annually at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, will be played from 5th – 8th August 2024.
The opening days play will be a qualifying stroke-play Medal round with the best gross scores moving into the match play format of the tournament from 6th to 8th August.
“P&S is excited to continue supporting Sri Lanka Golf, especially junior golf by offering a competitive platform for young talents to excel. Success in these tournaments will open doors to international competitions. We believe there’s a treasure trove of hidden talent waiting to be unveiled through events like this. We are committed to introducing young athletes to the joys of golf, honoring the passion of our late Chairperson, Rukmini Kodagoda.” said Gihan Perera, CEO/Managing Director.
This interesting and prestigious junior event is sponsored by Perera and Sons Bakers (Pvt) Ltd; 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. “The tournament is played for the 9th year and it is heartening to note the enthusiasm and the test of mental grit of our junior golfers given the different match play format of the championship. The progress of the Junior golfers has been outstanding with many juniors challenging the senior National Amateur golfers for selection in the National team in the recent past year.
“We are truly encouraged by P&S’s commitment to Junior golf. This prestigious tournament run by SLG together with P&S generous sponsorship will see the emergence of a Junior National match play champion of Sri Lanka for 2024. Match Play is a knock out format that tests the character and skill of these young players, wish all participants fun and the best of luck and may the best player win”, Said Ranil Pieris, Sri Lanka Golf Union – President.
The inaugural Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championship was played in 2014 with Prashan Pieris winning the title. The tournament was played for 9 years, but was not played during Covid lock down periods and resumed in 2022. The winners in 2023 were Kaya Daluwatte who defended her Title she won in 2022 in the girl’s division and K. Danushan in the boys, winning the Trophy for Boys for the first time.
This year the top juniors performing at National level and participating in the Senior Ranking Tournaments conducted by Sri Lanka Golf, namely Reshan Algama, Nirek Tejwani, Jevahn Sathasivam, Aadithya Weerasinghe from Anuradhapura are expected to challenge the defending champion for the Trophy.
Players will compete in four Age group Categories Comprising Gold Division (15 -18 years), Silver (13-14 years), Bronze Division (11-12 Years) and Copper Division (10 years & under).
The overall winner of the championship will carry away the Rukmini Kodagoda Challenge Trophy in the boys and girls categories respectively. 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.
