16th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final Kaya finishes second, Reshan fourth

GOLF

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka’s rising golf sensations Kaya Daluwatte and Reshan Algama once again proved their mettle on the international stage, turning in brilliant performances at the 16th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final which concluded at the spectacular Laguna Golf Lang Co in Vietnam yesterday.

In a tournament that drew the finest junior golfers from  across the Asia Pacific including talents from Australia, England, Japan, India, and Wales, Kaya rose to the occasion, delivering one of the most composed and consistent performances of her career. Finishing as runner-up in the Girls Under 16 Division, Kaya carded a  remarkable final round of 2-under-par bringing her total to a solid gross 216 (even par).

Japan’s Al Goto claimed the top honour with a score of 213, but it was Kaya’s incredible climb up the leaderboard that captured the attention of golf enthusiasts. From the very first day, Kaya demonstrated maturity beyond her years balancing precision, patience, and poise across all three rounds. Her closing round under pressure showcased her strategic acumen and fearless shot-making especially as she navigated the challenging back-nine with birdies to edge ahead of a competitive golfers.

Kaya’s runner-up finish in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final one of the most prestigious junior events on the continent is an extraordinary achievement for Sri Lankan golf. Her ability to match and outperform players from golf powerhouses reaffirms that Sri Lanka is ready to take its place among Asia’s elite in the junior ranks.

In the Boys Under 16 Division, Sri Lanka’n Reshan Algama also made a strong impression with a top five finish placing fourth with a gross score of 218.  Although his final round didn’t mirror the promise of his earlier rounds, Reshan held his nerve and maintained his standing in a field packed with international pedigree.  

His consistent appearances in top-tier tournaments and his ability to remain among the frontrunners underlines his evolution as a serious contender on the global stage. He had two remarkable days but dropped down on the final day to number 4 position overall.

Vietnam’s local hero Tuan Anh Nguyen produced a dominant wire-to-wire performance to win the Boys Under 16 title with a stunning gross 205, while Indian  Arshvant Srivastava secured second place with a 214 while another Indian junior KanavChauhan ended with a score of 216.

Kaya Daluwatte ended up as runner-up

Reshan Algama clinched fourth place