Victoria G & C R all set to tee off Steel c’ships

S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN -Kandy sports corr at Victoria

Victoria Golf and Country Resort is all set to conduct the 11th version of the Donald Steel Trophy golf championship at the Victoria golf course at Rajawella off Kandy this Saturday - February 21, with the first tee off at 7 a.m.

Donald Steel golf championship is close to the heart of Victoria as it was the first golf championship to be held when the Victoria golf course was opened in 1999 but above it was that internationally acclaimed golf architect Donald Steel who designed this course at a venue which was once a Dutch farm and later a mixed plantation and a part of it when the Victoria reservoir was commissioned in the early eighties.

Good fortune

This golf course has been designed in such a manner, made challenging for the golfers and those who have had the good fortune of having played in it, have always vowed to return not alone but with their friends and families as this course has so much to offer and it has always given the golfer the spills the thrills they yearn for, when they are away from the hustle and bustle of work.

It is not just a golf course and it has all the ingredients to get itself ranked among the 100 most beautiful golf courses in the world and twice has been adjudged the ‘Best Golf Course’ in the sub continent by the Asian Golf Digest.

This championship is one of the major golfing events to be staged by Victoria Golf and Country and it has generated a lot of interest not only among the members but also from foreign golfers who make a special trip to Victoria for this event. The General Manager of Victoria Golf and Country Resort Errol Johnston said that they have spared no pains to make this a memorable event. This will be also his major competition since he took over the reins of Victoria last year.

The first winner

The first winner of the Donald Steel golf championship in 1999 was Chamath Kulasinghe followed by David Griffith in 2000. The youngest to win this prestigious trophy was Binupa Wijesinghe who put up a stunning performance to lift the trophy in 2005. Binupa Wijesinghe who is now away in America to continue his studies was fifteen years at that time. The defending champion is former test cricketer and national cricket selector Sidath Wettimuni who won this trophy in 2008 after a gruelling battle with his son Sanjay Wettimuni as both finished with 28 points and pappa Sidath edged out his sonna boy after a play off. In third place Sujeewa Lankatillake with 26 points.

Lankatillake who won this championship in 2007 is in fine fettle and is all bent to have a go at the title this year.

List of winners

The list of winners of the Donald Steel Trophy are: 1999 - Champath Kulasinghe, 2000 - David Griffith, 2001 - Martin Ebert, 2002 - Alain Gyi, 2003 - Martin Ebert, 2004 - Martin ebert, 2005 - Binupa Wijesinghe, 2006 - Romesh Abhayaratne, 2007 - Sujeewa Lankatillake, 2008 - Sidath Wettimuni. Englishman Martin Ebert who was the co-designer of the Victoria Golf course has won the Donald Steel trophy three times and he is likely to make it to Victoria this year to regain the title.

Tilt at the trophy

Apart from Sidath Wettimuni, the others who should excel and have a tilt at the trophy are Sujeewa Lankatillake, Ian Tait, Sam Gunaratne, Chamil Wickremasinghe, Richard Wooral, Tony Witham, Kushil Kumar, Bo Lindberg, Suchy Helmut, Errol Johnston, Mangala Niyarapola, Chris Holloway, David Haynes, Alain Gyi and many others.

The Eberts Pot will be played alongside and this competition too draws wide interest and a large field of golfers will vie for this championship. Charlie Worral is the defending champion but he will have stiff competition from many.

Previous winners

The previous winners of this trophy, since it was introduced in 2000. Ajith Nishantha (2000), Helmut Suchchy (2001), Malik Ahamedeen (2002), Rohan de Silva (2003, Dr. Alex Perera (2004), Roshan Dias (2005), Ian Nalder (2006), Andrew Udesh (2007), and Charlie Worral (2008).

Lady golfers will have their eyes on the prestigious Pam Fernando Trophy offered in the name of one of the finest lady golfers produced by this country and a legendary of our times.

Niloo Jayatillake is the defending champion of this championship. Last year she tied with teenager Dhanushi Senadheera with 27 points each and Niloo won after a play off. In third place was that versatile golfer Suwen Selvaratnam. Having a go at this championship will be Sonia Boyle, Manori Jayakoddy, Dhanushi Senadheera, Jyoti Haynes, Pauline Morley, Suwen Selvaratnam, Usha de Silva, Maleena Awn, Indira Tibblin and many others. The past winners of the Pam Fernando Cup were: Suwen Selvaratnam (2000), Anouk Chanmugam (2001), Niloo Jayatillake (2002, Jackie Dias (2003), Suwen Selvaratnam (2004), Suwen Selvaratnam (2005), Thuhashani Selvaratnam (2006), Suwen Selvaratnam (2007) and Niloo Jayatillake (2008).

Four times

Suwen Selvaratnam has won this Cup four times and Niloo Jayatillake twice and a tense battle between this duo is expected this year.

The last of the major competition is the Victoria Bowl introduced in the year 2001 to attract the lady golfers.

The previous winners of the Victoria Cup were: Sally Collins (2001), Usha de Silva (2002), Indira Tibblin (2003), Niloo Jayatillake (2004, Sandie McAndrew (2005), Suwen Selvaratnam (2006), Pauline Morley (2007) and Pauline Morley (2008).

Pauline Morley who has won this event during the past two years will make an all out effort to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Though no rain has been experienced in the Victoria region for the past two months, the course is in good condition as a result of regular watering through the sprinkler system and the fairways look neat.

Challenging

It is going to be challenging and the golfers will have to use all their skills to come to terms with the course said the General Manager Errol Johnston. Also playing a major role in the handling of the arrangements is Ms Dhanushika Medagoda.