Mark Bostock Memorial Golf Tourney on May 2

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Correspondent at Victoria

Victoria Golf and Country Resort will conduct its golf championship of sentimental value - the Mark Bostock Memorial Trophy Golf Championship for the second year in running at the picturesque Victoria Golf course at Rajawela off Kandy on Saturday - May 2 commencing at 7.00 a.m.

According to the Marketing Executive of the Victoria Golf and Country Resort Ms Dhanushika Medagoda, over seventy golfers from Sri Lanka and abroad have entered this prestigious event which saw a very large number participating at the inaugural championship last year. This year even a bigger number is expected. Those interested could contact Ms Dhanushika Medagoda on mobile No. 0777840894 or log into the website www.golfsrilanka.com for the format and entries.

Late Mark Bostock was the brains behind the construction of a 18 hole golf course designed for 36 holes on a coconut plantation on the banks of the Victoria reservoir.

The course lined with mara trees and coconut palms has its quota of bird and wildlife making it wonderful to play there. Late Mark Bostock was a planter and later Chairman of John Keells Ltd. and played rugby and cricket and was also an excellent marksman.

Victoria opened its doors for golfers to play the game in January 1999 and since then it has gained popularity by leaps and bounds and it is not only a beautiful course but is also a challenging one where the golfers will have to draw from their experience to come to terms with it. This golf course has been voted the best golf course in the Sub Continent twice - in 2006 and also in 2008 by the Asian Golf Digest. It has also made improvements to the course and the infrastructure since its opening.

The Mark Bostock Memorial Golf Championship will be a 18 hole stableford one and the main championship title will be awarded to the lady or gentleman golfer who has best Net Stableford score. The other competitions which will be played alongside are:

Ladies Best Gross score - winners and runner-up

Men's Best Gross score - winner and runner-up

Ladies Best Net score - winner and runner-up

Men's Best Net score - winner and runner-up

Longest Driver Ladies and Men.

Nearest to the Pin - ladies and men

Christ Holloway with a handicap of 12 is the defending champion of the Mark Bostock Memorial Trophy which he won last year with a fine performance getting 42 net.

Ravi Mediwake who appeared to be in line for championship honours for most part of the day, was pipped in when his net score of 36 was easily overtaken by the ultimate winner Chris Holloway.

Sujeewa Lankatillake was the winner of the Ken Balendra Trophy with the Best Gross score of 29 but he was given a torrid time by Sanjeewa Wickremanayake of Royal Colombo Golf Club who was just one point behind with a gross score of 28.