Sparkling displays by Niloo and Roshini

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent at Victoria

GOLF: Golfing sisters Niloo Jayatillake and Roshini Sangani put up sparkling displays at the first round of the new medal series of Victoria Golf and Country Resort played in showery conditions at the Victoria golf course at Rajawella.

The turn out was good for the new series played under a new format. The greens were in excellent condition and playing fast despite the previous day's heavy rain but the fairway conditions were prepared for challenging play and only a few low scores were carded.

In the Ladies Division versatile golfer Niloo Jayatillake back at Victoria after a long break, played with vengeance to sweep the board winning both the Gross and Net events and taking home the Gross Medal with a score of 86 and she played to a handicap of ten.

Her elder sister Roshini Sangani with a net score of 79 finished runner up and in keeping with the medal round rules she emerged as the winner of the Net Medal.

The gentlemen's competition was run in two divisions - Division I Handicaps upto 12 and Division 2 Handicaps between 13 and 28. The Division I was closely fought with the experienced caddie playing on invitation D.M. Jayantha playing to a handicap of 5 took the honours and the medal with a Gross 79.

Expatriate Ian Tait who did not have a good day and playing not to his usual form finished runner-up with Gross 81 with 8 over par.

Carl Kelaart coming back into form and with recent scaling of the handicaps played well to top the Leader Board with a Net 72 to take the Overall Net Medal. Division 2 winners, Per Cramborn was hot on heels with Net 73 on a count back from Sirath Kasturiratne who took was back in form getting Net 73.

The Order of Merit points received are calculated on the number of players on the field for each division and after the first round stood as follows: Gentlemen Division I: Sam Gunaratne 5, Ian Tait 4, Sunil Jayakoddy 3, D. Evans 2, Chamil Wickremasinghe 1. Division 2 Leaders: Carl Kelaart 16, Per Gramborn 15, Sirath Kasthuriratne 14, Sidath Hemachandra 13, Sampath Hemachandra 12.

Ladies Division Leaders: Niloo Jayatillake 12, Roshini Sangani 11, Manori Jayakoddy 10, Sonia Boyle 9, Linda Harris 8.