Maleena Awn third in Silver Division

By Lal Gunesekera

GOLF: Sri Lanka's 15-year-old student from Ladies College, Maleena Awn, finished in third position in the Silver Division of the 91st All-India Women's Amateur Golf Championship at the Engleton Golf Course in Bangalore, India last week. This Division was won by Ksavi Malik from Calcutta from Nita Gvunda of Bombay.

Maleena Awn qualified to play in the main tournament under the Silver Division category. She moved into the semi-finals with two hard fought victories against Dhanaluxmi Rice (13 handicapper from Bangalore and three times winner in the South zone event) on the 19th, Sharmeen Chonoy (14 handicapper from Calcutta) in the quarter-final on the par 418th Hole.

However, the young Sri Lankan could not overcome the might of the much older and experienced Mita Govunda (holder of India's West Zone title) and lost at the 20th Hole. After the completion of the full 18 Holes, both had to play two extra Holes. After the 17th, Maleena was 1-up, Mita won the 18th and the 19th was halved. On the 20th, Maleena putted twice, although she was two on the green, but Mita who too was two on this very fast green sank a 25-foot Putt to emerge the winner.

Maleena won the Stableford event at the 90th All-India Championship at Delhi last year (2007) and was placed 5th in the Silver Division at the last Malaysian Open Amateur Championship in May last year (2007) at Datai Bay, Langakawi.

The Gold Division in Bangalore was won by local favourite Sharmila Nicolette and this was her seventh amateur title from Meher Atwal from Delhi. The losing semi-finalists were Karishma Thiagarajah from Hyderabad and Lavery Kumar of Delhi. Meher Atwal was the winner of Sri Lanka Women's Amateur Championship.

- LG