Sam and Niloo stars at Grand Prix Golf C'ships

BY S.M. JIFFREY Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr. reporting from Rajawella

SAM Gunaratne displayed excellent skills to clinch a double while the versatile Niloo Jayatillake won the Ladies Division at the final round of the Lectra Golf Championship organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored by Lectra Apparel Technologies France Limited which was worked off at the Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella recently.

Excellent weather conditions prevailed during the entire day and the course was made difficult and challenging by the club authorities and the golfers unable to cope with the challenge ran into problems and many countries were totted up. The greens were immaculately maintained despite the dry weather prevailing in the area.

Gunaratne, a former Vidyartha College cricketer now fully immersed in golf, a sport he took up just three years ago was the star of the day winning both the Men's Gross Division and Men's Nett Division which is a very rare achievement in the Lectra Championship.

"I have never been in such spanking and if not for some wayward play in the 17th hole when my stroke ended up in the shrubs and next I hit into a tree, the scores achieved would have been astounding".

Gunaratne playing to a handicap of 11, get a gross 77 and a 66 nett and in the process got 3 birdies and an Eagle. His brilliant performances has resulted in his handicap being scaled down to 9.

The final Grand Prix table of points has been not completed and young Binupa Wijesinghe who gave the final round a miss is virtually assured of the Gross championship having 187 points to his credit and Gunaratne may most probably displace Anil de Silva as the runner-up.

The last minute sprint by Gunaratne could see a change in the race for the Men's Nett Championship and Gunaratne could oust the table leader for this category Chamil Wickremasinghe who did not live up to expectations. But he compensated himself by winning Junior Division title for the month.

Niloo Jayatillake playing to a handicap of 10 stamped her class by winning the Ladies' Championship with a nett score of 71 which will no doubt help her to lift the ladies title at the Grand Prix very comfortably having built up a substantial 422 point lead over her nearest rival Manori Jayakoddy who could manage only 78 nett finishing behind the runner-up Suo Rao 73 and Linda Harris 76.

Though the table of points for the grand prix has been not finalised but there is no doubt about Niloo Jayatillake lifting the trophy with ease.

The results of the May 2005 Monthly medal championship:

Men's Championship -

The gross score is indicated first followed by the Nett score:

Sam Gunaratne 77 Gross and 66 Nett, Srinivas Rao 85 and 75, Richard Abdeen 98 and 79, Nihal Alagoda 93 and 76, John Anngood 126 and 98, Priath Fernando 94 and 85, P. Fernando Jnr. 115 and 91, Shavindha Fonseka 105 and 84, M. Hama 108 and 88, R.M. Hameed 94 and 76, Dr. Alex Perera 93 and 71, Rohan J. Perera 103 and 83, Nimal Perera 87 and 75, Akhil Rao 106 and 82, Klaes Rasmussen 101 and 86, Poul Rasmussen 114 and 94, Greg Ritchie 103 and 79, Amal Silva 115 and 87, Rolf Tibblins 103 and 83, Peter Wells 110 and 82, Tony Witham 95 and 82, Suneth Wijesinghe 99 and 73, Chamil Wickremasinghe 84 and 75.

Ladies' Nett Division -

Anne Angood 80 Nett, Niloo Jayatillake 71, Linda Harris 76, Manori Jayakoddy 78, Rohina Johnston 81, Sue Rao 73, Ina Rasmussen 78, Suwen Selvaratnam 75, Indira Tibblins 90.

Junior Division -

Shavindha Fonseka 84 Nett, Greg Ritchie 79, Chamil Wickremasinghe 75, Ahil Rao 82.

Winner Men's Gross Championship: Sam Gunaratne 77 Gross:

Runner-up Men's Gross Division: Chamil Wickremasinghe 84 Gross.

Winner Men's Nett Championship: Sam Gunaratne 66 Nett.

Runner-up Men's Nett Championship: Suneth Wijesinghe 73 Nett.

Winner Ladies' Division: Niloo Jayatillake 71 Nett.

Runner-up Ladies Division: Suo Rao 73.

Winner Junior Division: Chamil Wickremasinghe 75 Nett.

Runner-up Junior Division: Greg Ritchie 79 Nett.