John Scarth and Niloo Jayatilleke win major titles at Victoria Golf Tourney

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen – Kandy Sports Corr. at Victoria

John Scarth of British School and Niloo Jayatilleke of Carsons walked away with the ‘plum’ when they won the Gross events for Gentlement and Ladies at the Annual Club Championship of Victoria Golf and Country Resort sponsored by Etisalat and Dynasty Residencies and co-sponsored by Aqua Water and Lakmini Jewellery that went on for two days at the award winning Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella off Kandy last Sunday.

This Club championship which is final major event at Victoria for the year, produced scintillating golf as the golfers revelled under the prevailing conditions.

The rainy weather conditions experienced up here for the last couple of weeks or more, made the beautiful golf course look like a billiard table and as usual was challenging, as the golfers had to pull tracks from their bag to come to terms with it.

John Scarth, a British national from the British School who has made quite an impact since he started playing here from last year, came up with a fine performance to win the gross event with a score of 175 points over the two rounds. The defending champion Sujeewa Lankatillaka was not there to defend his title as he had travelled overseas on business commitment.

Nihal Perera – runner-up

But runner-up Nihal Perera was not far behind with 175. Just one shot behind him was Japanese national Toshiya Osawa who also won the longest drive of the championship with a mighty swipe. In fourth placed was Rohitha Batepola with 193.

The next two places were occupied by Gorden Hill and Nirmal Hettiarachchi with 195 points with Gorden Hill having a slight edge on a count back.

Niloo Jayatillaka once again displayed that the Victoria golf course is her happy hunting grounds by winning the Ladies gross with combined score of 182 ever the two rounds and this was an excellent score considering the challenging nature of the course when the golfers strive hurd to not to run up big scores.

Niloo Jayatilleke win ladies gross 182

She had a good 7 point lead over the defending champion Suwen Selvaratnam who scored 189.

This golf course has always witnessed a close struggle between these two top golfers as they have carried away everything before them.

For Niloo Jayatillake, it was another feather in her cap chequered career.

Behind this due was Krishani Vedaninayagam another fine golfer from Colombo with a score of 195 and Roshini Sangani made 206 to occupy the fourth slot.

Ahalya Rajan comparative new to competitions did well to finish fifth with 207, above the experienced Leise Parsons who made 2011.

Perhaps the most praise worthy performance came from Ahalya Rajan of Sun Match fame won the Nett title for ladies with a score of 159 playing to a handicap of 24. Speaking to this correspondent she said that she took to golf only in March 2013 and the way she played was a reflection of her skills and she skipped two places on her handicap and was made to begin her golfing career with a handicap of 34 instead of the mandatory 36.

She did well at the competitions to have her handicap sliced to 24 at present and it is likely to go lower in the future. Finishing runner up was Irene Scarth from ‘Old Blighty’ three shots behind with a score of 162, and she played to a handicap of 26. Roshini Sangani finished third with 164 playing to a handicap of 21.

Vidush Rajendra won the mens nett title with a score of 137 playing to a handicap of 23.

[Results ]

Longest Drive for non members (men and ladies) Toshiya Osawa.
Nearest to the Pin (Ladies and Men) Louise Parsons.
Rolf’s Cup Senior Division: Indies: Linda Harris. Men-John Keen.
Combined Nett winner (Men Members trophy) L.f. Birgitta.

[Club championship – 2014 Board Events]

Ladies Gross winner: Niloo Jayatillake, Runner-up: Suwan Selvaratnam.
Mens Gross winner: John Scarth, Runner-up: Nihal Perera.
Ladies Nett: Winner: S. Ahalya Rajan, Runner-up: Irene Scarth,
Mens Nett winner: Vidush Rajendran, Runner up: Teshiya Osawa.