Chamil and Linda steal the limelight

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports corre.

Nineteen year old schoolboy Chamil Wickremasinghe (Men's Gross) and expatriate Linda Harris (Ladies Gross) stole the honours at the Ceylinco Life Monthly Medal golf championship organised by Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored by Ceylinco Life Insurance and worked off at the picturesque Victoria golf course at Rajawella off Kandy over the weekend.

A very large number of golfers took the field in this beautiful golf course which provided the spills and thrills for the golfers. The afternoon showers in the Victoria region made the golf course look a billiard table and the Course Manager Maheel Bulumulla used his expertise to make it challenging forcing the golfers to use their skills to come to terms with it and to prevent themselves running up big scores.

Linda Harris a regular player at Victoria perhaps won her first major trophy when she won the plum for the Ladies events by lifting the Gross Division title with a score of 98. But she received a fierce challenge for this title from another expatriate and regular winner Sonia Boyle who also registered a similar score. But on a count back on the last nine holes Linda Harris edged out by having 9:42 while Sonia Boyle had 9:52. Three golfers tied for the third spot Indira Tibblin, Jyoti Haynes and Manori Jayakoddy of Hyundai fame with all registering 101 gross. But a count back on the last nine holes saw them ending up in the order mentioned above. Excellent scores were also registered by Suven Selvaratnam and S. Rasika.

Suven Selvaratnam playing to a handicap of 8 registered a Net score of 72 to walk away with the Ladies Net Division title. Linda Harris playing to a handicap of 24 finished runner with 74 gross.

Manori Jayakoddy who showed glimpses of her old form ended up second runner up with 77 Net playing to a handicap of 24. Also excelling in this division were S. Rasika, S. Sandhya, Jyoti Haynes, Indira Tibblin, Sonia Boyle, Pauline Morley and Lillian Perera.

Chamil Wickremasinghe showed pleasing form to win the Men's Gross Division with an excellent score of 76 but he was challenged to this title by that colourful Englishman Ian Tait who also registered gross 76. It was on the count back on the last nine holes saw young Chamil Wickremasinghe getting the better of the experienced Englishman. Chamil Wickremasinghe had 9:38 while Ian Tait had 9:42 in a closely contested affair. Regular winner Sujeewa Lankatillake finished with 77 gross with just one point separating the trio. A stray hit cost Sujeewa Lankatillake the title. Also coming up with good scores were S. Pradeep, Tony Witham (85), Sam Gunaratne (89), Noel Joseph (93), Errol Johnston (94), Sunil Jayakoddy (94), and Bo Lindberge (98) and Sirosha Gunatillake (98).

Mens Net Division went to Noel Joseph who got 69 Net playing to a handicap of 24. This was also Noel Joseph's first major trophy at Victoria. Englishman Ian Tait once again finished runner up with a Net 70 playing to a handicap of 6. Ian Tait was once again unlucky as he tied for the top position but was edged out on the count back on the last nine holes. Chamil Wickremasinghe finished third with 71 Net with versatile Tony Witham too getting 71 Net making the fight for the top position a difficult one. Sujeewa Lankatillake too was in the running at one time with 72 Nett. Also registered good scores were Nirosha Gunatillake, Suren Vass, Bo Lindberg, Ravi Mediwake, Sam Gunaratne, Errol Johnston and Sirath Kasthuriratne.

Tony Witham won the Gents Net Division two with 71 Net. Nirosha Gunatillake finished runner up with 74 Net. In third spot was Suren Wass with 77 Net.