Navy wins second Defence Services Golf Championship in Nuwara Eliya

The second Defence Services Golf Championship between the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force got underway at the prestigious and most beautiful Nuwara Eliya Golf Course from 11 to 13 May.

The initiative and guidance of the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne (WV,RWP,RSP,USP,ndc,psn) to play at the historic town of Nuwara Eliya came in for high praise and appreciation with the experience enjoyed by the participants of the championship.

The inaugural Defence Services Golf Championship was played in 2014, in China Bay, at the picturesque Eagles Golf Links, hosted by the Sri Lanka Air Force. The Sri Lanka Air Force was the first winner of the challenge shield and the game of golf was included into the 44 disciplines of the defence services sports games.

The Sri Lanka Navy won the second Defence Services Golf Championship with an aggregate stableford score of 223 points from the Sri Lanka Air Force who clinched the runners up berth with 210 points. Each force was represented by 10 players and all 10 scores were counted while the Sri Lanka Army was placed third with 195 points.

The event was organised with precision and attention to much detail under the privileged guidance of the Commander of the Navy as the host.

Capt. Rohan Lelwala, the Secretary of Golf, Sri Lanka Navy and his team with counsel from Sai Kasthuriratne, former captain of the NEGC, as the presiding Chairman of the Tournament & Rules Committee and the energetic Dian Abeyewardene, Manager Golf Promotion and Administration on behalf of the Sri Lanka Golf Union, ensured a successful tournament.

Brigadier Nanda Hathurusinghe, Chairman Sri Lanka Army Golf and Air Commodore Sudarsha Pathirana, Chairman Sri Lanka Air Force Golf comprised the Defence Services Golf Committee which ensured an excellent inter-defence forces event played with great camaraderie and good spirit.

The Sri Lanka Navy winning team score of 223 was boosted by an excellent performance of 34 points Stableford Gross by OD. D. M. P. P. Bandara, who won the trophy for the Best Player in the championship.

The Defence Services Championship was followed by an open individual tournament attracting 52 players. There was a special open category for over-40 and Captain K. M. M. P. Karunathilaka of the Navy outplayed 15 comrades from the three forces to become the over-40 champion with 15 gross points. Commodore S. J. Kumara also of the Navy was the runner up with 12 points.

OD.D. G. D. D. Perera (Danusha) of the Sri Lanka Navy played outstanding golf to become the open tournament champion with 33 gross points, relegating LAC. T. Jayaseelan of the Air Force to the runner up position with 32 points. Special prize for the longest drive on the 18th also went to Danusha Perera who converted the massive drive into an eagle to close the round in style. LAC.W. A. J. Wijenayake of the Air Force was the closest to the pin on the 17th measured at 8’ 8”, an accurate strike on a tough day at the office with intermittent rain and wet weather amidst a ray of sunshine.

The third Defence Services Championship will be played in 2018 and the Sri Lanka Army will be the host.

Results at a glance:

Second Defence Services Open Golf Championship 2016 –

Champions – Sri Lanka Navy 223 Gross Points

Runners Up – Sri Lanka Air Force 210 Gross Points

Best Player – OD. D.M.P.P. Bandara

Open Tournament Champion – OD. D.G.D.D. Perera (Danusha) Navy – 33 Gross Points

                                  Runner Up – LAC. T. Jayaseelan Air Force – 32 Gross Points

Open Tournament Over-40 category

Champion – Capt. K.M.M.P. Karunathilaka 15 Gross Points

Runner Up – Commodore S. J. Kumara 12 Gross Points

Nearest to the Pin 17th – LAC. G.W.A.J. Wijenayake (Air Force) 8’ 8”

Longest Drive – 18th – OD. DanushaPerera (Navy)