Ukwatte wins Lankan golfers UAE Open

by S.M. Fiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Corr.

GOLF: Dayananda Ukwatte won the inaugural Lankan Golfers UAE Open golf championship organised by the Lankan Golfers Union and the Victoria golf and Country Resort and worked off at the picturesque Victoria golf course at Rajawella off Kandy last Sunday.

A total of 115 golfers from Sri Lanka and abroad participated in this major golf champions which saw some exciting golf and the weather kept fine.

The golf course as usual was challenging provided a lot of excitement for the golfers. Free lessons on golf was also provided by the organisers for those wishing to cut their teeth in golf.

Though winning the plum Dayananda Ukwatte did not have things on his own way. Playing to a handicap of 17, he registered a score of 37 points but this was equalled by Sujeewa Lankatillake and Ajith Krishantha.

The organisers had to implement the tie breaker system of count back on the last nine holes which saw Dayananda getting 9:19, Sujeewa 9:16 and Ajith 9:15 and the first named was declared winner by a whisker.

This tussle between the trio provided the major excitement with the result kept in abeyance till the last moment as the winner carried away some lavish prizes which included a return air ticket from Colombo to Dubai with 3 nights of accommodation and two rounds of golf in the best course in Dubai in addition to the Challenge trophy and other prizes.

Dayananda Ukwatte is no stranger to golf as he has been playing this game in Nepal and his handicap stands at 17 which means he had been performing well.

Former test cricketer and national cricket selector Sidath Wettimuny was awarded the Men's Division one title for handicappers between 0 to 12 with a score of 35 points.

This was as a result of a sportive decision by Sujeewa Lankatillake who declined the prize for the ethical reason of being a member of the Organising Committee and was not eligible for this prize.

Lankatillake had 39 points against 35 by Wettimuni. The runner-up berth went to Captain Damindra Feranando of SriLankan Airlines getting 35 points.

Here again the two golfers coming up with equal scores.

Wettimuny won on a count back on the last nine holes.

Suwen Selvaratnam one of the top lady golfers in the local golfing once again had a titanic struggle for supremacy in the Ladies Championship with her main opponent in the current scene Niloo Jayatillake.

Suwen Selvaratnam got 36 to emerge winner. Niloo Jayatilake was just one stroke behind with 35.

The tussle for supremacy for the main title has been witnessed between these two ladies at many competitions including the Pam Fernando trophy, Mackwoods Ladies Stroke Play Championship and the Victoria Club Championship with one coming on top and the other ending second best.

Many more tussles between this duo could be expected in the future. Ajith Krishantha won the Men's Division II Championship with a score of 39 points.

This was for handicappers between 13 to 28. Finishing runner-up was Priyantha Hapugala with 37 points.