Sri Lanka Sports News | Sundayobserver.lk

Ian Tait, sisters Niloo and Roshini impress at Victoria

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen at Victoria Golf course

GOLF: Two sisters Niloo Jayatillake (Pam Fernando Cup) and Roshini Sangani (Victoria Bowl) reigned supreme among the ladies while Englishman Ian Tait retained the Donald Steel Trophy at the Annual Donald Steel Golf Championships organised by Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored jointly by Janashakthi Insurance, James Finalys Insurance and Precious House (Premadasa Golf Shop) and Carlasberg and worked off at the beautiful Victoria golf course at Rajawella off Kandy.

Good weather greeted the over one hundred golfers both from Sri Lanka and abroad who teed of in a course made challenging and exciting for the golfers by the General Manager Errol Johnston and the Course Manager Mahel Bulumulla with the support of the Support staff. Many foreign golfers were so thrilled with the setting that they waned to comeback with their friends or families.

Chief guest and Chairman of the Rajawella Holdings who own the Victoria Golf Course Chris Holloway, speaking at the awards ceremony said that this golf course was designed by the world renowned golf architect from the United Kingdom on a 550-acre coconut plantation surrounded by the waters of Victoria reservoir.

Former Cheshire cricketer and ruggerite Ian Tait made it too-in-a row for Donald Steel Trophy when he repeated last year's success when he won the tourney this year, with gross score of 32 followed by Sujeewa Lankatillake 30 and Sam Gunaratne 30 after a count back on the last nine holes. The Ebert Pot for mens net competition was won by Sascha Roschy with a Nett score of 47 playing to a handicap of 27. In second play place was Noel Joseph with 43 (handicap 18) and Johan Taylor finished third with 41 (handicap 17).

Roshini Sangani once again came good when she won the Victoria Bowl for the second year in running. Playing to a handicap of 24 she registered a Nett score of 44 and had a clear lead of 6 points over the second placed Mayumi Kokschroon who got 38 playing to a handicap of 25. Chris Benjamin ended up third with a score of 37 playing to a handicap of 24.

Immensely talented Niloo Jayatillake had to fight all the way before defeating another top golfer Suwen Selvaratnam by the wafer thin margin of just one point. Niloo Jayatillake got 27 gross while Suwen Selvaratnam 26. This was Niloo Jayatillake's third title win while Suwen Selvaratnam has won it five times. In third place was Janny Nalder with 20 points.