The Junior Golf Rankings for the year concluded with the completion of the Sri Lanka Junior Open 2017 with Vinod Weerasinghe, Taniya Balasuriya, S. Dhuwarshan, Shanal Binuksha, Reshan Algama topping the ranking in their respective divisions.
The designated tournaments for the year for national junior ranking were the Rukmini Kodagoda Match Play Championship, the Prima Regional Junior Opens in Kandy & Nuwara Eliya, and the Sri Lanka Junior Open in Colombo.
With the aim of encouraging more young golfing talent to emerge, the Sri Lanka Golf Union developed a comprehensive ranking system based on 8 Stroke Play Rounds of golf.
Junior Golfers have been ranked accordingly, in the four age categories ranging from below 9 years (Copper Division) and 10-11 years (Bronze Division), to 12-14 years old (Silver Division), 15-18 years old (Gold Division) and girls combined (Silver/Gold Divisions).
NDB Wealth’s sponsorship also entails equipment sponsorship for ranked juniors and this year we recognize the Professional coaches who have been instrumental in the development of the players.
“NDB Wealth is firmly committed to developing and promoting Junior Golf in Sri Lanka and most of all are encouraged by the dedication of the Sri Lanka Golf Union officials”, said Prabodha Samarasekera, Chief Executive Officer of NDB Wealth.
“The Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU, is thankful to the sponsorship from NDB Wealth for the second year running.
This has attributed in the junior golfers aspiring to improve their skills and being competitive throughout the year to get prestigious national ranking, feather in the cap for our juniors”, said Niloo Jayatillake, Chairperson - Junior Subcommittee, Sri Lanka Golf Union. She added that it would entail the selected junior’s access to any golf course in Sri Lanka and privileged to all facilities.
The developed ranking system will also be used in selecting players for overseas represent the country as it tests the player’s current form making national selection easier and more transparent.
The governing body for golf in Sri Lanka has developed a long term strategy and is now focused on promoting Junior Golf in the country to harness talent in the island with the role out of junior development programs island wide. We will see more numbers participate in the coming year and much keener competition for the juniors as the playing population increases.
“Sri Lanka Golf Union’s successful initiative to develop a system of National Ranking for Junior Golfers was recently introduced and the top 5 ranked juniors from each category will form the Sri Lanka Junior Golf National Squad”, stated Priath Fernando, President SLGU.
“We also like to thank expert financial planner NDB Wealth in supporting Sri Lanka golf with the commitment to sponsor the new rankings in the 2018 season as well”.
Final Rankings for 2017 for the year 2017 are as follows
Boys - Gold Division: Vinod Weerasinghe
Girls – Gold/Silver Division: Taniya Balasuriya
Boys – Silver Division: S Dhuwarshan
Boys – Bronze Division: ShanalBinuksha
Boys – Copper Division: ReshanAlgama