Suwen wins Sri Lanka-uae Ladies Golf C’ships 2012

Published : 9:59 am May 7, 2012 | No comments so far |

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Versatile golfer Suwen Selvaratnam won the ladies event while the ‘plum’ for the overall championship was lifted by Dayananda Ukkuwatte while a former national test cricketer won the Men’s Division One championships at the first ever Sri Lanka UAE Golf 2012 tournament organised by the Lankan Golfers Union in United Arab Emirates and the Victoria Golf and Country Forest and worked off at the picturesque Victoria golf course at Rajawella in Kandy.

Dayananda Ukkwatte playing to a handicap of 17 put up an impressive display to register a good 39 Nett and this score was equalled by two other golfers Ajith Krishantha who played to a handicap of 25 and Sajeewa Lankatillake whose handicap was 5. This deadlock was broken with a count back on the last nine opponents.

The winner walked away with the Lanka Golfers Challenge trophy and a return air ticket to Dubai and back courtesy Sri Lanka Airlines, in addition to a three night hotel accommodation in Dubai and two round of golf on 2 championship golf courses in Dubai.

A total of 113 golfers teed off on a very heavy day for golf on a golf course which looked a billiard table. The President of the Lanka Golfers Union in the UAE Julian Arnolds said that this will be an annual event.

Suwen Selvaratnem, fresh after winning the Pam Fernando Trophy at Victoria, won the Ladies title with a score of 36 playing to a handicap of 10. Finishing one stroke behind to a handicap of 8 was another top golfer Niloo Jayatilleke who got 35 nett. These two fine lady golfers have been involved in several closes tussles for supremacy over the years and this year was no exception. In most events it is one of the two who emerge winner. In the fight for Pam Fernando trophy at Victoria it was Suwen Selvaratnem who emerged winner but Niloo Jayatillake hit back by winning the Mackwoods Stroke Play Championships at Nuwara Eliya. This time it was Suwen Selvaratne. Also excelling in this contest were S. Ukkatte 34, Jyoti Haynas and Shirani Buffin 33 each which Manori Jayakoddy and Pauline Morley who got 32 each.

Former test cricket and national cricket selector Sidath Wettimuny was awarded the Men’s Division One championship for handicappers 0 to 12 with a score of 35 points. This championship was really won by Saneewa Lankatillake with 39 points but he sportively declined to accept the prize as he was in the organising committee. He said that he competed in this championship for the love of the game. Captain Damindra Fernando too came with a score of 35 along with Sarath Piyaratne. On a count back on the last nine holes Sidath Wettimuny was ahead followed by Captain Fernando Airlines who earlier won the Victoria Club Championship played to handicap of 6 while Sidath Wettimuny’s handicap was 10. Also getting good scores were Ian Tait and Sunil Jayakoddy with 34 each.

-By U. J. Jezeem