Sri Lankan golfer Jevahn Sathasivam is set to compete in the Asia Pacific (APGC) Junior Golf Championship in Manila from September 3 to 6, alongside three other talented players — Reshan Algama, Kaya Daluwatte and Adithya Weerasinghe. Having rapidly progressed in the sport over just four years, Jevahn is aiming for a podium finish, building on a stellar 2023 that included winning the Sri Lanka Junior Open and representing his country at the World Junior Open in Thailand and the Malaysian Junior Open.
His rise has been impressive as he took up the sport just four years ago, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged by his father, an avid social golfer and Jevahn quickly developed a passion for the sport. “I just enjoyed the game so much,” he said. “But as I got better, I started to see the potential in pursuing it more seriously.”
His progress has been remarkable, moving from a 24 handicap to a 0 handicap in just two years and last December he won the Sri Lanka Junior Open by an impressive 10-shot margin.
His relentless dedication to refining his skills is evident from the way he has honed his technique, ensuring his swing is calibrated for precision and power. With an impressive wingspan and quick club head speed, Jevahn boasts an average carry of 285-290 yards. While his strengths were evident, Jevahn remained committed to improvement, particularly in refining his chipping and short game.
Having been thrust into the spotlight with multiple wins at the monthly medals, the McLachlan Cup, and the prestigious Grand Prix Prize at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC), his consistent under-par rounds by virtue of his long hitting and accuracy around the greens facilitated his journey from a 24 handicap three years ago to a scratch (0) handicapper in December 2023, a personal target he had set for himself.
By virtue of his wins, he also entered the prestigious World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) for the first time. His performances in these qualifiers enabled him to be selected by SLGU (Sri Lanka Golf Union) and R&A as their representative to represent Sri Lanka (boys U-16) at the R&A World Junior Open Championship in Scotland where he finished 40th and making the cut despite challenging weather conditions.
“2023 was a fantastic year for me. I participated in three international tournaments and played some great golf,” reflected 16-year-old Jevahn. His performance in these tournaments, including reaching the quarter-finals of the RCGC Championship, has positioned him as one of Sri Lanka’s most promising young golfers. He lost to the eventual runner-up Husni Uwise. “I was four down by the 10th hole but managed to hold on until the 17th. He played exceptionally well that day,” says Jevahn.
His focus now shifts to the Junior Asia Pacific Golf Championship and pursuing his aspirations of securing playing in the US. “My goal now is to play college golf in the US and hopefully move on to a professional circuit either there or in another country,” he says.
In addition to golf, gangly six-footer Jevahn Mikel Sathasivam is an all-round athlete, being the basketball captain at Asian International School, Colombo.
As he prepares for Manila, Jevahn is also working on strengthening his mental game, a crucial aspect of golf. “The mental side of golf is almost as important as the physical,” he noted. He is starting a program with an Indian coach to develop this skill further.
