Oman Air Golf winner gets Rs. 100,000

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

GOLF: This year the Oman Air Golf Classic 2014 will attract top golfers from Sri Lanka, Australia and the Middle East and the prizes have been enhanced to attract more golfers and at the same time making Sri Lanka a golfing destination in the region and attract tourists said the Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives of Oman Air Gihan Karunaratne.

He made these observations when addressing the media in connection with the fifth Oman Air Golf Classics 2014 organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored by Omar Air - the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman which will be worked off at the award winning and beautiful Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella off Kandy on October 4th and 5th.

Annually this tournament attracts over a 100 golfers from Sri Lanka and other countries especially from the Middle East and this year there will be golfers from Australia too joining in and the number of participants is likely to increase further.

Also present at this press briefing were General Manager of Victoria Golf and Country Resort Neroy Marso and its Manager Marketing and Events Ms Dhanushika Medagoda.

Winner grand prize

Gihan Karunaratne said that last year they saw a well contested championship and Andrew Udeshi walked away with the coveted title of overall winner and Martin Miller finished runner-up. This year, the winner will receive a grand prize voucher worth Rs. 100,000 together with a handsome trophy. In addition to this , the golfers are set to compete for the titles of Overall winner, and runner-up, Gross winner, Nearest to the pin, Longest drive in both ladies and gentlemen categories.

Commenting on the tournament, Gihan Karunaratne said that this annual championship has become a permanent fixture with our customers who enjoy playing the game competitively.

This year, the prize money has been enhanced giving the golfers and added incentive to compete at their highest level. He said that they are pleased to say the Oman Air Golf Classic is becoming increasing highly anticipated both here and internationally whilst we are committed to popularising the sport again.

This event will also serve as a platform to showcase Sri Lanka as a premier golf destination.

He said further Victoria Golf Course is a 6,945 yard par 73 golf course that is surrounded on three sides by the Victoria reservoir which was impounded in 1983 and the Victoria dam could be seen at the end of the golf course.

The golf course is also skirted on one side by the majestic Knuckles range and on the other by the Hewaheta range and on view at a distance is the Diyatalawa mountain range in Hanguranketha, making it a scenic beauty beyond description.

N'Eliya best golf course

The Victoria Golf course is no ordinary golf course as it was designed by the world famous and award winning British golf architects Donald Steel & Company to accommodate players of every level whist offering them of equipment of the highest standards for the golfing enthusiasts.

It has been voted the 'Best golf Course in the Sub-continent on a number of occasions since 2005 by the Asian Golf Monthly.

It is also ranked among the 100 most beautiful golf courses in the world by the Golfers Digest.

Its cool climate and serene look back drop makes the course the ideal one for Oman Air Golf Classics.

The General Manager of the Victoria Golf and Country Resort said that the golf course is in the best possible conditions having being upgraded regularly to meet the challenges of the times and also provide the challenge for the golfers which they will not find anywhere else.

We are preparing enthusiastically to ensure the event is a major success as in the past.

The PGA rated course corporates natural hill side terrain that will be challenging even for some of the most experienced and seasoned golfers participating in the tournament.

We are also preparing to make the event an exciting golfing experience both local and overseas golfers who are expected in their numbers.