Johnston clinches overall nett title

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr at Victoria

Australian born Errol Johnston came up with a superlative performance to win the overall Nett title at the third round of the monthly golf championship organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and worked off successfully at the beautiful Victoria golf course in Rajawella off Kandy.

Strongly built Errol Johnston who has made a name for himself in the longest drives competition with his strong drives was the star of the competition leading the race in the all entries and overall he led 72 playing to a handicap of 12 which has been scaled following his wins in competitions.

Chamil Wickremasinghe too registered a score of 72 but on a count back on the last nine holes Johnston emerged winner by 9.36 against 9.36.5 by Chamil Wickremasinghe.

Others registering good scores in the all entries segment were Per Cramborn 73, Manori Jayakoddy 73, Suren Waas 73, Suwen Selvaratnam 73, Y. Aberatne 73, Tina Hannsson 76, Sam Gunaratne 77 and Sujeewa Lankatillake 77 and Anne Pophoff 77.

Chamil Wickremasinghe however came good in the Men’s Gross competition by winning it with a Gross total of 77.

Sujeewa Lankatillake was second with 81 Gross and Errol Johnston got 84 Gross. Others registering good scores were Ian Tait 85 Gross, Suren Waas 86 Gross, Sam Gunaratne 87 Gross, Per Cramborn 92 Gross, Touy Witham 97 Gross, Herne Mascarana 103 Gross and Serge Pophoff 104 Gross.

Going over to the competition for ladies versatile Suwen Selvaratnam with a top class performance registered a Gross score of 81 to win the Ladies Gross title. In second place was Y. Aberatne with 87 Gross. Others registering good Gross scores were Tina Hannsson 90, Manori Jayakoddy 93, Sonia Boyle 93 and Indira Tibblins 100.

But Manori Jayakoddy of ‘Hyundai’ fame hit back in the Ladies Nett Competition by lifting this title with a Nett score of 73 playing to a handicap of 20. Suwen Selvaratnam too came up with a similar score. But Manori Jayakoddy emerged winner on a count back in the last nine holes. Manori Jayakoddy had 9:36 while Suwen Selvaratnam had 9:38.

Y. Abeyratne once again excelled to finish second runner up with 74 Nett. Others coming up with good scores were Tina Hannsson 76 Nett, Anne Pophoff 77 Nett, Chathuri Engman who took the field after a long lay off got 78 Nett, Indira Tibblin 79 Nett, Sonia Boyle 81 Nett, Pauline Morley 81 Nett.

Away from the main competition experienced golfer Yvonne Abhayaratne showed glimpses of her old form when she won two events - first the Nearest to the Pin for Ladies and also the Longest Drive for Ladies, thus went home with two trophies.

Chamil Wickremasinghe just out of his teens collected his second trophy for the day by winning the Nearest to the Pin for Men.

Expatriate Per Cramborn won the Nett Medal event with a Nett score of after tieing with Suren Waas who also made 73. But on a count on the last nine holes Per Cramborn had 9:35 and Suren Waas 9:36.

Cricketer Sam Gunaratne did not go home without a trophy as he won the Division One Nett competition for handicappers by getting 77 Nett.

The Division Two competition for handicappers between 13 to 28 was won by Suren Waas with 73 Nett.

The final results

Longest Drive for Ladies: Yvonne Abhayaratne.

Longest Drive for Men: Sujeewa Lankatillake.

Nearest to the Pin Ladies: Yvonne Abhayaratne.

Nearest to the Pin Men: Chamil Wickremasinghe.

Men’s Division II Nett for handicappers (13-28)

Suren Waas

Men’s Division I Nett for handicappers (10-12)

Sam Gunaratne.

Gross Medal winner Men: Chamil Wickremasinghe.

Gross Medal winner Ladies: Suwen Selvaratnam.

Nett Medal winner Ladies: Manori Jayakoddy.

Nett Medal winner Men:

Overall Nett winner: Errol Johnston.