Rasika wins Ladies Gross Championship

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Rasika Ekanayake won the Ladies Gross Championship while R. Pathmanathan lifted the Men's Gross Title in the second annual Victoria Caddies Golf Championship for the Musa Cup sponsored by Banking Consultant from Dubai Rizvi Sheriff and worked off at the Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella off Kandy on Wednesday.

Over 45 Caddies from Victoria competed in this championship which produced golf of a high standard. The course as usual was challenging but the participating Caddies came to terms with it without encountering any problems.

It is heartening that Rizvi Sheriff based in Dubai as a consultant for many banks came over to Sri Lanka to sponsor this tournament for caddies which is a recognition of the services of the caddies and their talents without caddies there will be no golf and therefore their efforts need recognition.

Caddie Rasika Ekanayake who won the Mackwoods Ladies Stroke Play Championship came up with a masterly display to return a gross 82 to lift the gross championship for Ladies Finishing runner-up was Sandhya Kumari with a gross 93.

The fight for the Men's Gross title turned out to be a gruelling battle as two of the country's top golfers R. Pathmanathan and the in form Vijitha Bandara ended with 70 points each. But on a count book on the last nine holes R. Pathmanathan edged out his opponent Wijitha Bandara who had to be satisfied with the runner-up berth.

A.H. Herath playing to a handicap of 30 registered 71 strokes to lift the Ladies Nett title S. Violet finished runner-up with 80 nett playing to a handicap of 20.

Priya Hemantha won the Men's nett title with a nett score of 68 playing to a handicap of nine M.C. Kumar too came up with nett score of 68 nett playing to a handicap of 16. But on a count book on the last nine holes saw Priya Hemantha emerge winner.

Caddie Master V. Sivakumar won the nearest to the pin for men while the same contest for Ladies was won by Rasika Ekanayake who completed her second win.

This caddies competition was held in the name of the youngest son of Rizvi Sheriff.