Winners with the officials: From left: 1st Runner up -M.U.Chanaka Perera, G.M. of Victoria Golf Resort Kanchana Wickramasinghe, 2nd Runner Up Uchitha Ranasinghe, Manager Fin.Admin. SLG Duminda De Zoysa, Asst.National Coach G.M. Pradeep Kumara, Winner Reshan Algama, Rules Officer SLG Sai Kasturiratne, Manager FOM /Events VGR Asiri Ariyaratne, 4th Place Wijitha Bandara, 05th Place Priya Hemantha.
Teenager Reshan Algama, turned fifteen in February 2023, held his nerve playing among heavily experienced golfers comprising a playing Pro on the PGTI circuit, the past National Amateur Champion, few teaching professionals and seasoned Amateur golfers with loads of experience.
Reshan having made his debut appearance overseas representing Sri Lanka Golf in Bangladesh recently, performed quite well for a debut appearance and visibly that single experience has helped Reshan improve rapidly growing in confidence and showing the ability to deal with pressure.
Reshan Algama’s opening round of 78 secured joint fourth place with M.U. Chanaka Perera the past Amateur National Champion, behind the joint leaders Uchitha Ranasinghe and Priya Hemantha an experienced teaching Pro playing on his home Course. In third place one stroke behind the joint leaders was Vijitha Bandara the only PGTI playing Professional in the field, who also holds the current Course Record at seven-under-par.
No one would have imagined that Reshan four strokes adrift of the leader after round 1 would be the winner of this competitive WAGR Sri Lanka Golf Ranking Monthly event this early in Reshan’s young golfing career. Reshan shot a one-under par 71 in Round 2 to move up two positions, one stroke behind Priya Hemantha on a two-round total of 148.
Reshan Algama Teeing off for the first time in the Leaders flight in the 3rd round played excellent golf showing maturity and ability to withstand pressure carding a solid 2 over par 74, surging into a three-stroke lead from the only playing professional in the field Vijitha Bandara, with Priya Hemantha slipping a few places along with Uchitha Ranasinghe, Chanaka Perera, Chalitha Pushpika of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The final round was an excellent test of character for Reshan Algama who took on Vijitha Bandara and Priya Hemantha and withstood the pressure to card a solid one over par 73 to maintain the 3 stroke-lead from Vijitha Bandara and secure his first victory at the senior level of golf in Sri Lanka at the Victoria Golf Resort a challenging course up to international standards, with the longest yardage at Par 72 and recognized among the 100 most beautiful Golf Courses in the world.
Congratulations to Reshan Algama, a rising young star for Sri Lanka Golf and an encouragement and endorsement of the young talent that has emerged from the Junior golf development programmes of the RCGC and Sri Lanka Junior Golf conducting regional and junior championship golf tournaments for over ten years now. Credit to Reshan’s coach and his closest confidant, his enthusiastic dad, quietly supporting and encouraging the youngster to perform at his best.
A great day and ray of hope for Sri Lanka Golf as the young star overturned the senior brigade challenging for the National team spots for a brighter golf future for Sri Lanka.
Leader Board results:
1. Reshan Algama 78,71,74,73-296
2. H. M. Vijitha Bandara 75,76,75,73-299
3. M. U. Chanaka Perera 78,76,75,75-304
4. Uchchitha A. Ranasinghe 74,76,79,76-305
5. Priya Hemantha 74,74,80,78-306
6. G .Danaranjan 84,76,79,73-312
7. Vinodh Weerasinghe 82,76,78,81-317
8. V.Saran Raj 90,81,81,82-334
9. H.L.S.Sanathchandra 83,85,82,85-335
9. TR.M.S.Rupasingha 83,82,83,87-335
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