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by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

The Lectra Monthly medal golf competition organised by the Victoria Golf Club and sponsored by Apparel Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. and Lectra France Limited is all set for the grand finals which will be worked off at the picturesque Victoria Golf Course at Dingala, Rajawella on Saturday - May 31 commencing at 8 a.m.

This monthly medal competition which has generated tremendous enthusiasm both among the locals and the foreigners has provided some exciting fare in the 11 rounds already worked off.

Sirath Kasthuriratne with an early flourish using his vast experience playing in Europe where he was resident for over 20 years leads the points table with 426 points but the main threat for him will come from former cricketer now turned golfer Nimal Wettimuni who is behind with 320 points.

But Nimal Wettimuni has shown tremendous form in the last two rounds to rise from the fifth place to the second displacing Priyantha Kumara, K. Hema and Peter Bright. With the winner getting a bonus of 50 points, Nimal Wettimuni threw in a hot challenge.

The fairways are lush and green after the recent rains followed by bright sunshine and the conditions are ideal for golf in this 18 hole golf course of 6870 yards distance Par 73 with the greens built to international standards. One cannot look for a better scenic view surrounded on three sides by the Victoria reservoir and with a back drop of mountains in a coconut plantations.

The Manager of the Club former cricketer and ex-planter Tony Witham has taken great pains to maintain the greens to international standards and this golf course had been designed by that world renowned golfer and golf course architect Donald Steel. Rest of the activities are handled by that perfect host Britisher Janine Weeratunga who has made Sri Lanka her home now and assisted by Marketing Manager Lalindra Ranaweera. Mrs. Janine Weeratunga who is a indefatigable worker is the Secretary of the Club.

The Chairman of the Apparel Technologies (Pvt.) Limited Rohan de Silva himself a fine golfer having excelled in the Donald Steel international golf competition said that his firm has come forward to sponsor this monthly event with a view of spreading the game of golf and to give the golfers a competition every month which will improve their standards at the competitive level. This will also bring in a large number of tourists to the country which will in turn boost tourism. They will be sponsoring this Lectra Monthly Medal competition for another year. They have also plans to sponsor another competition in Nuwara Eliya.

The golfers will go into the grand finals on Saturday - May 31st with the following point standings.

1. Sirath Kasthuriratne - 426 points.
2. Nimal Wettimuni - 320 points.
3. Priyantha Kumara - 297 points.
4. K. Hema - 288 points.
5. T. Okada - 283 points.
6. Peter Bright - 271 points.
7. Rohan de Silva - 214 points.
8. Thejan de Silva - 175 points.
9. Sidath Wettimuni - 175 points.
10. Tony Witham - 134 points.

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