Ladies College's Maleena Awn wins a 'double'

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr.

Thirteen year old Maleena Awn from Ladies College, Colombo, won a double while former cricketer Nimal Wettimuni won the men's gross division, eleven year old Kelly Rao won the men's nett division at the final round of the Lectre Nonthly Model golf championship organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored by Apparel Technologies (Pvt.) Limited. The golf was worked off at the Victoria golf course in Rajawella.

The course proved to be challenging and the golfers had a touch time in coming to terms with it. As usual the fairways were in immaculate condition. A bouquet should go to the organising committee headed by General Manager Miko Varney, Marketing Manager Lelindra Ranaweera, Course Manager Meheel Bulumulla, Caddio Master Peter Perera and his Assistant K. Sivakumar.

The test of the final round of this 12 round championship without any doubt is Ladies College schoolgirl Maleena who took a little time off from her exploits in sailing to be on the turn to clinch a double.

Maleena who played to a handicap of 28 came with 102 gross on a very difficult course and her challenger Aida Androe from Singapore was close on her getting 105 gross with the latter playing to a handicap of 31. In third place was Ina Rasnussen with 109 gross. But this championship was consipicous by the absence of some top lady golfers like Nilce Jayatillake, Manori Jayakoddy and Usha de Silva.

But there was a titanic struggle for the Ladies Nett title with Maleena Awn and Aida Andrea getting equal strokes of 74 each.

But on a count back Maleena Awn edged out her opponent. Maleena Awn getting 9.40 and Aida Andrea was breathing fire behind her getting 9.41. In third place was Ina Resmucsen with 78 nett. Former Sinhalese Sports Club cricketer Nimal Wettimuni continued his good form in the Lectra golf championship when he won the gross Division with a fine score of 79 and he played to a handicap of 6.

It was an excellent performance by Nimal Wettimuni who has won the Gross Division title for the months of March and April getting scores of 78 and 79 respectively and stands a good chance of winning the Mens Gross Division overall title and his main opponent being Englishman Ian Tait who did not participate in the final round like Binupa Wijesinghe who in the early stages hold sway but dropped out mid way.

Binupa Wijesinghe is the defending champion of the Gross title. In second place was another schoolboy from Eeclo International Chamil Wickremasinghe who got 86 gross and played to a handicap of 9.