Danarajan and Rainika pose stiff golf challenges in Anuradhapura

Continuing its drive to broad base the game in the country, the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) together with Prima Sunrise Bread has found a new venue at Anuradhapura to conduct the Regional Junior Open Golf Championship. The tournament which teed off yesterday will come to an end today at the Eagles’ Heritage Golf Course in Anuradhapura, the newly built course by the Sri Lanka Air Force. This type of tournaments are conducted with the intention of promoting golf regionally and in turn be a way to identify talent for representation at national level. The main sponsor of junior national golf, Prima Sunrise Bread has extended its support to the SLGU to sponsor the regional junior open.

As usual the tournament is played over two days. It comprises of three divisions for different age groups namely; the Gold Division for age groups of 15 to 17 years, the Silver Division for age groups of 11 to 14 years and the Bronze Division for age groups of 10 years and below. Among the frontrunners in the competition are G. Danaranjan, fresh from his victory at the Victoria Junior Golf Championship and Lamindu Rainika, posing a challenge to much experienced player Prashan Peiris in the Gold Division. Vinod Weerasinghe and Sathsara Dilshan will provide stiff competition in the Silver Division. In the most junior category, the Bronze Division, G. Danushan and T. Vikashmay are the mystery duo.

Ana Punchihewa, the secretary of SLGU was convinced that Sri Lankans have the talent to be world class golfers as they have proved in cricket and through these regional events. His aim is to eventually bring golf into the school sports curriculums.

“Top cricketers also have been known to become excellent golfers,” said Punchihewa citing Sir Garfield Sobers, the late Tony Grieg, Brian Lara and Sri Lanka’s own Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.