The Sunday Times Sports - Niloo takes handsome Hyundai golf classic

Niloo Jayatilleke called the shots and turned star player at the Hyundai Golf for Charity tournament at the Royal Colombo arranged and presented by the Ladies Section of the Royal Colombo. It was an outstanding success and much credit to the new team of hand picked members who are progressing very effectively. Anouk Chitty a former champion staging a comeback to the game was striking the ball well. She came 2nd.

Good looking Sandra Ramanayake once again struck the limelight. Playing excellent golf she amassed a classy winning total of 37 points to smile all evening at the Award ceremony. She won the “B” Trophy from J.S. Kim Choo who was on 35 points. Lalinda Mui Dharmaratne a spritely bright kid in her early teens not only won the “C” Division and the 6 hidden holes contest but also the plum award of overall winner of the day’s play. She received much deserving applause for a day of great creditable golf. S.H. Chong had a good round to collect 40 points and be placed 2nd in the

Roshini Sangani was a given a Ladle for messing around merrily. The Ladies have formed a great formidable team. Individually and collectively they have produced the goods and there is much promise of further success under their stewardship.

The Stableford Tournament was great and when it came to the award ceremony, Cocktails & Buffet Dinner one witnessed classy arrangements seldom seen at the Royal Colombo. The décor and table arrangements by Anne Captain were delightful and Suni Nirmalingam compered the programme smartly, effectively and with an easy flow. Manouri Jayakody was meeting and greeting members and guests in her attempt to make them comfortable.

Heinz Reuter was over the full moon over the outstanding presentation and he was not hesitant to tell a captive audience how pleased he was and how thankful he was to those who put together an excellent evening. Ahn Gil-Won a visiting Korean Minister who was a special guest was greatly impressed and loaded with praise for those who helped in the success of the Hyundai Tournament. The hospitality was intoxicating and the Buffet Dinner under the supervision of the Ladies pretty good.

Earle Samarasinghe’s unique and unmatchable record at Ridgeways

Earle Samarasinghe will be the first to admit that he is no brilliant golfer. He will also admit that he never was a highly competitive golfer. He loves the game and plays for pleasure, exercise and the opportunity to meet and greet friends who share his passion for the game. Accidentally or not he has been identified as a Hole-in-One specialist and his record which I shall relate now is absolutely phenomenal

On the 4th of September he registered his 17th Hole-in-One at the Royal Colombo Golf Club playing in the company of Dr.Tony Gabriel & S.S. Jayawickrema. I will now attempt to put together his record from the documentary evidence I have before me. I’ve written a couple of times before about his achievements and this time I plan to be more comprehensive

His first achievement was in 1987 soon after his return to Sri Lanka after a 26 year stint for the United Nations. This was followed by 2 more in 1997. In the year 2005 this amazing sequence of stunning achievements followed with 8 Holes-in-One in that Calendar year. This success continued into 2006 when his achievement on the 4th September pushed him into a total of 17 in his career. Absolutely stunning, absolutely unique and most certainly unmatchable.

In the old days the feat was promptly identified and acknowledged by the Club. A congratulatory letter was sent accompanied by a Bottle of Scotch invariably offered by the Agents of the brand. Earle Samarasinghe laments that he wrote to the Club and has had no response and what is absolutely tragic is that the Book that records these hiostorical achievements has gone missing. Congrats Earle – your record is absolutely outstanding. How do you do it? And a wag responded “just bloody lucky and a fluke specialist”