Fazly Ahamed Azhar won the Rotary International Golf Stableford Golf Championship, with an overall nett score of 71 in the two rounds in the tournament organised by the Rotary Club of Kandy and the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and worked off at the beautiful Victoria golf course at Rajawella, off Kandy on Sunday.

A large number of man and women golfers took the field on Saturday and Sunday for the two rounds of golf which was on Stableford Eclectic format on the score per hole on both days of play.

As usual, the course was in topping condition with the rains which fell last week making it greener and more challenging and the golfers revelled under these conditions.

Fazly Ahamed Azar, playing to a handicap of registered 29 points on the first day with some splendid play pushing Sujeewa Lankatillake into second place and Sam Gunaratne into third place, respectively. On the second day too, Fazley came out on top with a nett score of 42 and Sujeewa Lankatillake, though coming up with a good score was pipped at the post by a single point-41 nett.

In third place was 20 handicapper with a nett score of 37 and he was ahead only after a count back on the last nine holes with Errol Johnston too getting 37 nett but playing to a handicap of 12.

Ian Tait finished sixth with 35 nett and Sam Gunaratne in seventh place with 35 nett after a count back. Overall Rowland Davies finished runner-up and Sam Gunaratne came in third place.

The Gross championship was won by Sujeewa Lankatillake who excelled on both days with his now arch rival Ian Tait as runner-up. Victoria has seen many gruelling battles between the duo, with one trying to get the better of the other. Englishman Ian Tait, who has played cricket and rugby for Cheshire Minor County is in sparking form at present, winning many titles.

Expatriate Sonia Boyle, one of the top lady golfers from Victoria played below expectations as a result of some wayward hitting. But she compensated by winning the competition for the longest drive on day and day two as well to go home with two trophies.

The longest drive for men went to Johan Taylor on the first day and Sujeewa Lankatillake won this event on the second day.

All in all it was excellent golf on both days with the locals and the foreigners enjoying it and the proceeds of this championship will go to the Rotaty International Fund for Humanitarian projects. This competition would not have been the success it was if not for the efforts of Victoria’s General Manager Errol Johnston, Marketing Executive Dhanushika Medagoda, Rotarian Carl Kelaart, Rotarian Ayesha Wijeratne and Arlene Kelaart.