Sports

Pandithage Don Alexander, the elegant silver haired smart merchant of yesteryear was the founder of DIMO and the franchise holder of the Mercedes Benz, the pride of Germany. He inaugurated the DIMO/Benz Golf Tournament at the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo over a dozen years ago, when the event was highly competitive and simple in presentation. The awards were lavish and the hospitality unending. PDA loved his Scotch and relished the company of those who enjoyed the spirit. I recall every glorious moment of his delightful company until he was called to his rest.

The scene now is different. Ranjit Pandithage, the present Chief Executive of DIMO, is aggressive with a masterly flair and style that matches the highly competitive complexities of the motor industry, where he sits comfortably. DIMO sponsored the event and the awards ceremony that followed in swanky style.

Brilliant Romesh

Tall and flashy Romesh Abhayaratne, the son of ‘Duchess’ Abhayaratne, is usually up front with a tricky handicap of 5. He is majestic off the tee and overall, his game is compact and quite tidy. 40 points in a stableford is quite respectable, and he had two others who matched him – Ranil Pathirana and Michael Perera Magala – both excellent golfers. In the count back Pathirana and Magala were unfortunate and got eliminated. Messing up the rear end were Janek Hirdramani, Neil Chanmugam and Ivor Maharoof.

Rohan Perera excelled in the ‘B’ Division with a stunning score of 41 points, the highest and the best for the day. Rohan was delighted with his success and kept smiling all evening through the awards ceremony. His pals and many others cheered him violently. Yachtsman Joseph Kenny of Bolgoda fame came pretty good with 40 points – one reckless shot cost him the winning ticket. Majed Awn came third with a good score of 39.

Gihan Wickremasinghe from the ‘GC’ clinic is a tall, barrel-chested young man, bubbly with enthusiasm for the game. Like Papa Wicks, he is loaded with method and style and most of all a strong will to succeed. The young man came good with an encouraging score of 35 to win the ‘C’ event and registered his first victory at the Ridgeways. Caesar Fenando beat Ken de Alwis by 2 points and got beaten by Wickremasinghe by one point.

Ranjit Pandithage was eloquent expressing the pleasure he got from the success of the tournament. He thanked the Royal Colombo, responding to the earlier observations made by Ajantha Mylvaganam.

The music was disturbingly loud, the fellowship great and the hospitality intoxicating. The bitter drop in my cup of a pleasurable evening was the indiscipline of those who hung around the bar enjoying the hospitality of the hosts. They disturbed the announcers and showed little respect for the Captain’s appeal for silence during speech time. Thankfully when Ranjit spoke there was pin drop silence. Ranjit loves his German wines, happily approved and encouraged by his petite wife, Jeevani, who thrives on fresh orange.

That man again, Joseph Kenny, won a tricky event. He found the hidden holes and collected 18 points and a good looking trophy. P.H.B.Samaradiwaraka was the most outstanding Senior and Firaz Hameed got a wooden ladle for a performance he would want very much to forget! The DIMO/Benz day out at the Ridgeways was quite enjoyable and a good time was had by all.

The bridge over the water on the 7th has been declared unsafe and there goes Rs.1.7 million down the hazard, while the contractor and architect are laughing.