COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, April 12, 2025 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka amateur champion Jevahn Sathasivam and Kaya Daluwatte—Sri Lanka’s top-ranked junior golfers—are packing their bags and dreams as they head to Japan and Vietnam for two of the most prestigious junior golf events of the year: The Royal Junior and the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. With calm confidence and clubs in hand, the duo is all set to fly the Lankan flag high in the international golf course.
“It’s a big step, but we’re ready to give it everything,” said 17-year-old Jevahn, his eyes gleaming with quiet determination. “This is not just about me, it’s about showing what Sri Lanka is capable of.”
First up is The Royal Junior, Japan’s pre-eminent junior golf competition, taking place from April 19 to 21 at the prestigious Royal Golf Club in Japan. It’s an invite-only tournament that draws the crème de la crème of the junior golf world.
Jevahn earned his spot due to his impressive ranking as Sri Lanka’s number one junior golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), while Kaya secured her place as the top Lankan golfer through a string of exceptional international finishes.
“It’s an honour just to be invited,” Kaya shared. “But I’m not going there just to play—I want to compete, to challenge, and hopefully, to inspire.”
After Japan, there’s no time to rest. The two will jet straight to Da Nang, Vietnam, for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô from April 24 to 26.
This is where the stakes get even higher. Both players earned their spots by winning the Sri Lanka leg of the Faldo Series earlier this year.
For Jevahn, that victory was hard-fought. He was trailing early but staged a remarkable comeback on the final day—proof that when the chips are down, he doesn’t fold.
“I knew I had to dig deep,” Jevahn said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Stay calm. Play your game. The rest will follow.’ That final round was all heart.”
Kaya, meanwhile, dominated her division from start to finish—like a queen on the chessboard, making confident moves while keeping her opponents at bay.
Make no mistake—these tournaments aren’t just for experience. Both Jevahn and Kaya are going in to compete with the best and be the best.
Their performances in recent months speak volumes. Jevahn finished first in the Sri Lanka Junior Open Championship and 133rd Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship, while also competing across Asia in elite tournaments like the APGC Junior Championship in the Philippines and the R&A Junior Open in Scotland.
Kaya’s calendar reads like a tour professional’s—top finishes in India, Thailand, Nepal, and the Philippines, and a steady climb up the WAGR ladder. She was runner-up or better in six major events this calendar year alone, including a win at the Sri Lanka Ladies Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship.
“Golf is a mental game,” said Kaya. “You need a cool head and a warm heart. That’s what I’ve learned, and I carry it with me into every tournament.”
This is more than just sport. It’s about putting Sri Lanka on the golfing map, one putt at a time. And these two teenagers are taking that responsibility seriously.
They’re not just swinging clubs—they’re carrying the hopes of a nation.
“We may be young,” Jevahn smiled, “but we’re not green. We’ve trained, we’ve traveled, and now it’s time to prove our mettle.”
“We want to inspire other kids, especially young girls, to believe that golf is a sport where they too can shine,” Kaya added.
Competing in back-to-back high-stakes tournaments is no walk in the park. It’s a test of endurance, focus, and grit. But for Jevahn and Kaya, it’s also the chance of a lifetime.
As they tee off in Japan and Vietnam, they carry more than just golf bags—they carry the hopes of a country eager for sporting greatness.
“Whatever happens,” said Kaya, “we’re going to give it our all. We’ll leave it all out there—no regrets.”
“Pressure makes diamonds,” Jevahn said. “Let’s go shine.”
And with that, Sri Lanka’s brightest young golfing stars are off to chase their dreams—swinging for glory, aiming for history.
