Binupa wins Milo Junior Open

Kandy Sports Corr.

GOLF: Fifteen year old schoolboy from Wycherly International School, Colombo Binupa Wijesinghe won the Milo Junior Open Golf Championship 2006 organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored by Nestle Lanka Limited and worked off at the Victoria golf course at Rajawella off Kandy in glorious sunshine on both days of this two day tournament.

Binupa Wijesinghe playing to a handicap in the Gold Division registered scores of 79 and 76 totalled 156. But he was given a close run by another 15 year old schoolboy from Ecole International School, Digana, Chamil Wickramasinghe who got 75 on the first day and followed up with 81 on the second to equal the gross total with 156. Binupa Wijesinghe's had a 6 over and 4 over while Chamil Wickramasinghe had 2 over and 8 over but Binupa emerged winner in the end when he birdied in the 17th hole.

But the golfer who really stole the show with an amazing performance was 15 year old Dananjaya Bandara a caddie from the village attending a local school who struck a hole in one in the 12th hole for which he was awarded a special prize.

Palitha Pethiyagoda of Nestle's Lanka Limited graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and he distributed the awards to the winners with Marketing Manager of the Victoria Golf and Country Resort Laindra Ranaweera acting as the Master of Ceremonies.

General Manager of the Victoria Golf and Country Resort Mr. Mike Varney commented after the championship that it was a great tournament and a tremendous success. We couldn't have done it without the support of Nestle's. We look forward to an even better tournament next year.

After a practice session on Friday which focused on helping the juniors to develop the basic techniques of play and getting acclimatised to the course and the challenges it had to offer, the championship itself got under on Saturday.

At the close of play on Day of the Milo Junior Open, Victoria golfer Chamil Wickremasinghe returning an excellent gross 75 off a handicap of 6 was perched on top of the leader board.

Fourteen year old Dhanushi Senadheera, a young lady golfer from the Royal Colombo Golf Club was in trailing behind but in a commanding position with 78. Sanjay Wettimuni and the ultimate winner Binupa Wijesinghe carding a gross score of 79 each were also in line for honours. The leader board read thus:

Chamil Wickremasinghe 75, Dhanushi Senadheera 78, Binupa Wijesinghe 79, Sanjay Wettimuni 79, Avinesh Naroshkumar 82, Sharya Unamboowe 89, Andrew Udeshi 90, Savindra Fonseka 92, Richard Gunawardena 92, Sampath Hemachandra 92, S. Sritharan 95, S. Subash 101, Sidath Hemachandra 103, Dananajaya Bandara 106, Dhanika de Silva 106, Dulshan McJacobs 116, Nuwan Hemachandra 116, Nirantha Bendara 199, Piyal Amerasinghe 133, S. Dharshani 155.

The Novices category was led by Charitha Gunaratne of RCGC followed up by Lochana Mathew and Zak Mangala in the second and third positions.

The second day's play started off well with all youngsters determined to better their scores on the board. In the Gold Division the first day's leader Chamil Wickremesihghe was unable to hold on to his position as he returned a gross 81, and the enormously talented Binupa Wijesinghe dipped deep into his reservoir of experience for a youngster to return a gross 77.

Sanjay Wettimuni too returned a gross 81 and pocketed the second position from Chamil Wickremasinghe on a count back. Thus the three 'W' s" - Wijesinghe, Wettimuni and Wickremasinghe retained the top three positions on the Gold Division.

In the Silver Division Dhanushi Senadheera from Royal Colombo Golf club who returned a gross score of 87 won this division but not before he was given a run for his money by Nuwara Eliya Golf Club's Shavinda Fonseka who got gross 86 to clinch the runner-up berth. The Nett Division was won by Dhanika de Silva who played for the first time at Victoria.

At the conclusion of this Junior Championship the overall leader board for the Gross Division for Gold and Silver championships read thus:

Binupa Wijesinghe 156, Chamila Wickremasinghe 156, Sanjay Wettimuni 160, Dhanushi Senadheera 160, Sampath Hemachandra 165, Avinesh Naroshkumar 177, Shavinda Fonseka 178, Sharya Unamboove 180, Richard Gunawardena 185, Sritharan 188, Andrew Udeshi 188, S. Subash 199, dananjaya Bandara 202, Dhanika de Silva 206, Sidath Hemachandra 206, Dulshan Mcjacobs 217, Nuwan Hemachandra 223, Nirantha Bandara 244, Piyal Amerasinghe 258, S. Dharshani 300.

Dhanushi Senadheera snatched her second title when she won the longest drive for the ladies with a mighty swipe in cricketing style. The longest driver for gentleman was won by Sanjay Wettimuni who displayed the cricketing blood in him with a fine drive which sailed over.

The Milo Junior champion Binupa Wijesinghe won the overall putting competition title to claim his second title.