Niloo and Sam show class at SL-China Friendship Golf Championship
By Shamseer Jaleel
Golfer Niloo Jayatillake and Sam Gunaratne won the ladies’ and men’s segments of the first ever Sri Lanka–China Friendship Golf Championship, staged at the Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella on 25 and 26 October.
The Ambassador for China in Sri Lanka, Wu Jianghao walked away with the Combined Nett title.
The competition was organised by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and sponsored by Chinese Enterprises in Sri Lanka (main sponsors) and co-sponsored by the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and SriLankan Airlines.
In total, 75 golfers participated in the event.
Niloo Jayatillake secured the ladies’ title with a gross score of 25. She was six shots ahead of runner-up Louise Parsons, who scored 19 points. Others who impressed were Manori Jayakoddy (17), Ding Yue (16), Roshini Sangani (15) Pauline Morley (15), S. Ahalya Rajan (13), Linda Harris (12), Berg Margretta (11) and Irene Scarth (10).
Sam Gunaratne won the men’s title with a score of 28 and John Scarth finished runner-up with 23 on a count back on the last nine holes with Harsha Abeywickrema retuning the same score.
The ladies’ nett title was won by Jayakoddy with a score of 36 playing with a handicap of 20, with S. Rajan Ahalya securing the runner-up berth after scoring 35 playing with a handicap of 24.
She edged out Roshini Sangani on a count back. The others who excelled were Berg Margretta 34 points (22 HC), Niloo Jayatillake 34 points (HC 9), Louise Parson 32 points (13) and Linda Harris 32 points (23.)
Zhu Maliang won the men’s nett title with a score of 42 playing to a handicap of 23. Wu Jianghao finished runner-up with 39 points (HC 20), edging out Sathis Balasubramaniam 39 points (HC 19) on a count back.
Other good scores registered were Sam Gunaratne 36 points (HC 9), Errol Johnston 36 points (14 HC), Liu Q Yue 35 points (HC 18), Jerry Huxatable 34 points (HC 16), A. Sirath Kasthuriratne 33 points (HC 19), Johan Taylor 32 points (HC 11) and John Scarth 31 points (HC 8).
The Combined Nett score event was won by Wu Jianghao with a score of 39 playing to a handicap of 20. Finishing runner-up was Sathis Balasubramaniam, who also finished with 39 but lost out to Jinghao after a count back on the last nine holes.
Results
Longest Drive Ladies: Louise Parsons
Longest Drive Gentlemen: Zhuang Lizhoy
Closest to the Pin Ladies: Margretta Berg
Closest to the Pin Gentlemen: Sam Gunaratne
Junior Golfers’ prize: Oliver Wang and Vinoth Weerasinghe
Ladies Best Nett score: Manori Jayakoddy 36
Runner up: Madam Ding Yue
Best Nett Score Gentlemen: Zhu Maliang
Runner up: Errol Johnston
Chinese Ladies’ and Men’s Combined Nett score: Winner Wu Jianghao
Sri Lankan Ladies and Gentlemen Combined Nett score winner: Sathis Balasubramaniam
Ladies’ Best Gross Score Winner: Niloo Jayatillake
Runner-up: Louise Parsons
Men’s Best Gross Score: Sam Gunaratne
Runner-up: John Scarth
