Sparkling displays at Seventh Swedish Golf Classic

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports corr reporting from Victoria

Chamil Wickremasinghe (Swedish Classic Trophy), Tony Witham (Rolf's Cup), Ian Tait (Mens Gross) and Tina Hansson (Ladies Gross) put up sparkling displays at the seventh version of the Swedish Classics 2009 Golf Championship organised by the Swedish Community in Sri Lanka and the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and worked off at the beautiful Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella off Kandy over the weekend.

Over 140 golfers with nearly seventy of them from countries like Sweden, India, Switzerland, Pakistan, Malaysia, Germany, United Kingdom, Dubai, Italy, Singapore and many others participated in this grand championship which was followed by a dinner dance and distribution of awards ceremony in which over 250 attended.

Five times World motorcross champion and a legendary in the motor racing track Swedish Rolf Tibblin one of the organisers of this golf championship was a delighted and a happy man. He told this writer that nowhere in the world has he ever seen a golf championship followed by a party of this magnitude and it was well organized through careful planning. He also thanked this newspaper for the wide publicity given and he looked forward to similar support in the future too.

Twenty year old Chamil Wickremasinghe just out of school carried away the top award of Swedish Classic Trophy and the Swedish jacket by registering a Net score of 40, playing to a handicap of 6. Two others came with similar scores and tied for the top spot which was decided after a count back.

Chamil Wickremasinghe who is an old boy of Ecola International School, Digana completed his education at American College played to a handicap of six. He was a trifle luoky in finishing off on top to lift the Swedish Classic trophy. In the 14th hole, the ball struck a tree and dropped into the mud and had to play extra strokes to put the ball back into play. In the last hole (18th) misfortune struck him again when one of his hits ended up in the shrub jungle and was virtually lost.

A caddie who was watching this retrieved the ball before it was declared lost and a penalty imposed which would have blown up his chances as two others had come up with scores of 40.

Chamil Wickremasinghe in close victory march has two over, 1 Eagle, 2 birdies, had the misfortune of a double bogey too.

The prestigious Rolf's Cup presented by Rolf Tibblin was lifted by the evergreen one-time cricketer and ruggerite Tony Witham who knowns the Victoria golf course like the palm of him hand having being associated with it from day one and seen it grow in stature over the past 11 years. Tpny Witham 'gentle master' he played to a handicap of 16 and collected 36 points and was presented with the trophy by the international figure in motor racing Rolf Tibblin himself. It was a great performance by Tony Witham.

Former Cheshire cricketer and ruggerite the big-made Ian Tait once again excelled by winning the Men's Gross championship with a score of 33 points and Sujeewa Lankatillake finished second with 29 points. Finishing a close third was Sam Gunaratne who got 27 points after a count back on the last nine holes.

Expatriate Tina Hannsson put up a tremendous performance to Gross Division for ladies with a score of 21. Tina Hannsson who is a regular player at Victoria perhaps put up her best performance, beating the versatile Sonia Boyle who collected 17 points and Manori Jayakoddy of 'Hyundai' fame was in third place with 15 points.

The Men's Stableford competition was won by Ravi Mediwake with 40 points. Ravi Mediwake who spent many years in the United Kingdom playing golf and automobile engineering could be devastating on his day. Though he romped home winner but he was given a close call by Helmut Suchchy who had 39 points - just one point behind and Australian Errol Johnston finished third with 39 points after a count back. Just one point separated the first three which gives some indication to the relentless battle in the course.

The Stableford competition for ladies went to foreigner Van Nright who had 38 points to her credit. Finishing runner up was Pauline Morley with 35 points after a count back on the last nine holes. Linda Harris finished third also with 35 points.

The longest drive for men was won by Indian Vasu Meregul who came from Hyderabad with a team of 25 golfers calling themselves 'Flintstones'. The longest drive for ladies was won by Val Nright.

The weather kept fine and the course was in good condition due to the efforts by the General Manager Errol Johnston, Course Manager Maheel Bulumulla and the workers including grass cutters. The visitors from other countries were full of praise for the course and the challenges it offered and they were of opinion that it is one of the best they had ever played.

They were also full of praise for the caddies and their knowledge of the course and the game. marketing Executive Dhanushika Medagoda and Caddie Master M. Sivakumara too played their part well. The ceremonies were handled by Ian Tait, Rolf Tibblin, Sujeewa Lankatillake, Errol Johnston, Indira Tibblin, Veinert Holm, Chathuri Engman and many others.

The results:

Beginners - Ladies: Florentina Popescu, Mens: Janika Abeysinghe

Beginners: Shirani Kotalawela

Beginners Men: Winner: Paul Topping 58 points, Second place: Xavier Noberoort 61 points, Third place: Bepe S 69 points

Wooden Spoon: K.J. Westmann

Longest Drive: Men: Vasu Meregul, Ladies: Val Nright

Closest to the Pin: Men: Thusith Weerasinghe, Ladies: Tina Hannsson

Closest to the Line: Men: Nimal Wettimuni, Ladies: Sonia Boyle

Stableford Ladies: Winner Van Nright - 38 points, Second Place: Pauline Morley 35 points C/B, Third place: Linda Harris 35 points

Stableford Men: Winner: Ravi Mediwake 0 points, Runner up: Helmut Suchy 39 points (Count back), Third place Errol Johnston 39 points

Ladies Gross: Winner: Tina Hannsson 21 points, Runner up: Sonia Boyle 39 points, Third place: Manori Jayakoddy 15 points

Men's Gross: Winner Ian Tait 33 points, Runner up: Sujeewa Lankatillake 29 points, Third place: Sam Gunaratne 27 points

Rolfs Cup: Winner Tony Witham 36 points

Swedish Classics Trophy Overall winner: Chamil Wickremasinghe 40 points after a count back.