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Taimur "Timmy" Hassan of Pakistan (now the father of 3 sons) has entered the Sri Lanka Golf Championships after a lapse of 12 years. His first appearance was in 1967 when just 16 years old he was the champion (the 'wonder Boy') of Pakistan. He was the youngest golfer then to play in our Championships and was an immediate favourite with the crowds who came to watch him play.

He returned the next year and reached the semifinals. He continued to compete in the Championships regularly and his first success was in 1975 when he beat Pin Fernando in the finals; and his last visit was in 1990 when he was beaten by Nandasena in the finals. Taimur married in 1985 and has 3 sons - 15-year-old Hamza is the Junior national Champion of Pakistan; 10-year-old Omar is also a promising golfer and 6 year old Shehrayar has already started swinging a club. Timmy himself is still among the top golfers in Pakistan and regularly makes the order of merit.

I met him in Pakistan last year and made him promise to return to our Championship this year. He is a friend of our High Commissioner in Pakistan, Srilal Weerasooriya (who is also a keen golfer) and has been introduced to our President, Chandrika Kumaratunga at a function in Pakistan.

He cannot get over the reception he has received - greeted by the senior players and referred to as "the Legend", hailed by the older caddies (Master where have you been, we have been waiting for you) ball boys and even by young boys seated by the railway line who have heard of him.

He relates how he passed Nandasena's house and his wife came up to him and took him inside and showed him a large photograph of himself with Nandasena.

He told me this visit is in Pin's memory and irrespective of his success or failure in the championships his great pleasure will be meeting Priath, Druki, and Tiru, Farida, Gun, Mysty, Willie, Sohli and all his other golfing friends.

Pam Fernando

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