Asia Pacific Junior Golf 2023 in Philippines

The Asia Pacific Junior Golf Tournament 2023 came to an end last Friday (19), with Reshan Algama leading the Sri Lankan team to a formidable comeback on the final day of the tournament. With an impressive four under par round, which was the second-best for the last day, Reshan demonstrated his golfing prowess and climbed up to the 11th position out of some top-class 22 junior golfers around Asia and some from Europe as well.

The Sri Lankan team, comprising Reshan and Kaya Daluwatte, put up a valiant effort in the tournament, despite facing tough competition. While Reshan led the team with his impressive performance on the final day, Kaya also impressed with a solid 2-over round that showed character at a young age to bounce back. The errors she conceded in the first two days made the recovery look very small.

The Sri Lanka Golf Union, which has been instrumental in promoting golf in the country, provided the young golfers with an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience by participating in the Asia Pacific Junior Golf Tournament. These opportunities will be critical in encouraging Sri Lanka to produce professional golfers going forward. HSU Po Chend won the event with a total score of 210, while South Korean boys, Moon Donghyun and An Seong Hyeon, were tied on number 2 with 211 points. Meanwhile, Reshan ended up 11th on 222 points, with four tied for 7th on 221 points, which shows the high level of competition among the youngsters.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror from the Philippines, Reshan said, “I am extremely proud of my performance today and the way the Sri Lankan team fought back on the final day of the tournament. It was an incredible experience to play alongside some of the best junior golfers in the region, and I am grateful to the Sri Lanka Golf Union for giving us this opportunity.”

Kaya, speaking to the Daily Mirror, said, “This tournament has been a great learning experience for me. I have learned a lot from playing alongside some great golfers, and I will take these lessons with me as I continue to pursue my passion for golf. Overall, the strong showing by the Sri Lankan team at the Asia Pacific Junior Golf Tournament is a testament to the growing popularity of golf in the country. With continued support and investment in the sport, Sri Lanka can produce more talented junior golfers who can compete at the highest level, and put the country on the map as a top golfing nation in the region.” BY Shamseer Jaleel