Ian Tait wins Best Nett score competition

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

Former Cheshira Minor County cricketer and ruggerits and low handicapper Ian Tait won the Best Nett Score competition while Sujeewa Lankatillake pocketed the Best Gross score title at the second annual Rotary International Golf Championship 2010 organised by the Rotary Club of Kandy in conjunction with the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and worked off at the picturesque Victoria Golf course at Rajawella off Kandy.

Ian Tait using his skills registered a combined best Nett score of 76 playing to a handicap of 5 to clinch the Nett title. This competition being open to both ladies and gentlemen that versatile lady golfer Suwen Selvaratnam finished runner up with 74 Nett playing to a handicap of 8. She was followed by Sujeewa Lankatillake, Amal Cabraal (handicap 12) and Nilkamal Perera (handicap 12) with scores of 73 each with Lankatillake edging out the other two on a count back on the last nine holes. The next three places were occupied by ladies Niloo Jayatillake 72, Indira Tibblin and Sonia Boyle 70 each. Sunil Jayakoddy playing to a handicap of 8 was in the ninth place with 68 and Shir and Buffin in 10th place with 67 Nett.

Sujeewa Lankatillake once again excelled when he lifted the title for the Best Gross (Combined Ladies and Gentlemen) with a Gross score 65. Ian Tait was slightly ahead of him with 66 Gross but the title went to Lakatillake as Tait had already won the Nett title with a competitor eligible to win only one title in the main competition. Runner up in this competition was that former Thurstan College, Dimbulla and Upcountry ruggerite and cricketer Sunil Jayakoddy who got 52 gross. Following Sunil Jayakoddy was Niloo Jayatillake 52 Gross (after a count back on the last nine holes), Nilkamal Perera 51 Gross, Amal Cabraal 49 and Suren Wass 48.

Sujeewa Lankatillake who is turning out to be a top golfer since his return to the island after a 20 year stay in Switzerland won two more titles.

First he won the Longest Drive for men and followed by winning the Nearest to the Pin for men to round off a highly successful competition which was spread over two days.

Highly talented Niloo Jayatillake who recently sparkled at the Donald Steel Golf championship once again excelled by winning Nearest to the Pin for Ladies and also Best Nett Score on the Score Day.

Indira Tibblin kept to her promise by winning the longest drive for ladies on the 17th hole on the first day.

This competition was a well organised one and the weather kept fine and the large number of golfers who turned up enjoyed every moment of it. The proceeds of this golf championship will be utilised for Community Development work to upgrade the existing facilities or to provide more facilities to the needy people.

The results’

Longest Drive - 17th Hole: Ladies: Indira Tibblin.

Gentlemen: Sujeewa Lankatillake.

Nearest to the Pin 12th Hole: Ladies Niloo Jayatillake

Gentlemen: Sujeewa Lankatillake.

Best Nett Score Day One Ladies: Sonia Boyle.

Gentlemen: Nilkamal Perera

Best Nett Score Day two Ladies: Niloo Jayatillake

Gentlemen: Lalith Perera

Best Combined Gross Score (Ladies and Gentlemen) winner Sujeewa Lankatillake

Runner up: Sunil Jayakoddy

Best Combined Nett Score (Ladies and Gentlemen) Winner Ian Tait.

Runner up: Suwen Selvaratnam.