Henry, Ian and Steve clinch golf titles

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

Henry de Mel won the overall Men's Nett title while Ian Tait the Men's Gross Title and Suwen Selvaratnam the Ladies Gross to steal the honours at the April Monthly Medal Golf Championship organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and worked off at the beautiful Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella off Kandy.

Afternoon showers experienced in the Victoria Region helped the growth of grass and the course was in very good shape which required the golfers to exhibit good skills to come to terms with it.

A good number of entries was received and Henry de Mel - a comparatively new comer to Victoria put up an excellent performance to come out on top in the all entries segment by registered a Nett score of 70 playing to a handicap of 21.

The experienced Ian Tait finished second with a Nett score of 72 playing to a handicap of 6. In third place was Per Crambern with 72 after he was edged out on a count back in the last nine holes by Ian Tait.

But Ian Tait won the Men's Gross Title with a Gross score of 78 followed by Sujeewa Lankatillake with a Gross total of 79 and had to be satisfied with the second slot by whisker.

But both golfers showed excellent form in time for next week's important Mark Bestocks Memorial Golf Championship. Next Per Crambern and Henry de Mel both got 91 gross and Per Cramborn finished ahead on a count back in the last nine holes. In fifth place was Sam Gunaratne with 93 Gross.

Versatile Suwen Selvaratnam finished on top of the Ladies Gross competition getting an excellent 86 gross with a ten point lead over the second placed Manori Jayakoddy who 96 gross.

Sonia Boyle and Fran De Mel get 100 points each and Sonia Boyle clinched the third place on a count back on the last nine holes. Finishing fifth was Linda Harris with 101 Gross.

Manori Jayakoddy who comes from Colombo to play golf at Victoria came good by winning the Ladies Nett title with a Nett score of 78 playing to a handicap of 18. But two other golfers namely Suwen Selvratnam and Fran de Mel too came with Nett scores of 78 and this tie was broken by a count back on the last nine holes and Manori Jayakoddy finished on top getting 9:37 and Suwen Selvaratnam 9:39 and Fran de Mel 9:4. Linda Harris 80 Nett and Roshini Sangani 81 Nett finished fourth and fifth respectively.

The results

Longest Drive Men: Sam Gunaratne.

Longest Drive Ladies: Suwen Selvaratnam.

Nearest to the Pin Men: Henry de Mel.

Nearest to the Pin Ladies: Roshini Sangani.

Men's Division II Nett Winner: Per Cramborn.

Men's Division I Nett Winner: Sujeewa Lankatillake.

Ladies; Gross Winner: Suwen Selvaratnam.

Men's gross Winner: Ian Tait.

Ladies Nett Winner Manori Jayakoddy

Overall Nett Winner: Henry de Mel.