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Festive golf at Ridgeways
A Senior combined with a Junior is the latest contest at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and even though the entries were below expectations. The event was extremely successful and enjoyable.

Richard Gunewardena, the junior joined with Aelian Gunewardena to complete a victory round beating a few formidable combinations. Richard, the sprightly little fellow was outstanding coming out of deep trouble on several occasions and keeping the game alive. The pair dovetailed superbly to win convincingly with Richard the junior taking the major applause.

Sanjay Wettimuny & Binupa Wijesinghe shaped well from the beginning got untidy a couple of times, visited the pond once and paid the penalty. They came 2nd after a gruelling contest. Binupa was identified as a delightfully promising player.
Coming 3rd with quite a rewarding round was Rohan Fernando and bright spark Sachin Unamboowe. They combined well with understanding but eventually what they put together was inadequate to win. Young Unamboowe has much ahead of him.

Caddies
The Golf Union now wide awake to their responsibility came good when they eventually got the Royal Colombo to accede to their request to have the Caddies participate in competitive events. Even though segregated, the Caddies had an opportunity of playing once again and now I feel strongly the Union must put up a Competition plan with awards from sponsors so the doors get open wider for them to compete more often. The Union and Club must appreciate that it's the Caddies who bring credit to the country and it's only the Caddies who are showing any degree of worthwhile talent and progress.

Professional arrives
Hans Stevens that delightfully pleasant Dutch Professional from the land of Tulips, Windmills & Advocate is due to arrive anytime now and Radha Sunderampillai is beaver busy getting her nursery organised for the anointing scheduled for just after day break on Monday the 27th January 2003. The parents are as interested as the kids and the queue for registration is long and fast moving.

The Stevens couple are delighted to be in Sri Lanka once again and the kids while they adore the couple are keen and anxiously waiting for the wake up call to be in time for the Clinic. Much good has come out of these Clinics and much credit to Radha Sunderampillai for her organising efforts and absolute dedication to the cause. I spoke with the Stevens couple when they were here last year and they expressed much agreement to the suggestion that they spare some time for the Caddies. I trust Sriyan de Soysa, the indefatigable President of the Sri Lanka Golf Union will ensure that while he presents a Competition Plan for the Caddies he will also ensure they benefit from the coaching offer made by Hans Stevens.

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