It was sad to hear from friends the passing away of Berra Goundar a champion golfer.
Berra represented Fiji on many occasions in the golfing scene and in his prime days teamed up with the big Fijian Vijay Singh for the World Amateur Championship at Pinehurst Golf Club, US.
That was the year 1980. Says a lot about a young man from Labasa, without any professional coaching, no TV or Youtube to express himself at the world championship.
I met Berra in the late seventies when I was transferred to Bank of NSW (now Westpac), Labasa branch and was unanimously made treasurer of the Labasa Golf Club. We became good friends.
Berra was very talented, he picked up golf by caddying for the “Sahibs” in the CSR days for 10 cents a round.
In the beginning, he used guava sticks and old golf clubs to hone his talent and eventually became a great champion and a formidable match player.
People still talk about him as on par with the great Vijay.
He would have been a good professional golfer if he had ventured out overseas, but that needs financial support and help which we lack in Fiji. Always will miss you in my heart bro, rest in peace.
Through this newspaper, may I offer my deepest sympathies to Berra’s wife, children and kinsfolk.
