SANDRA Compain and Ashwin Nand made history last Saturday after being crowned the inaugural Hibiscus Golf Queen and King at the FGC Hibiscus King and Queen Golf Classic at the Fiji Golf Club in Suva.
The new tournament attracted 115 golfers who took to the course despite windy and wet conditions, adding a new sporting feature to the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Hibiscus Festival.
Compain claimed the women’s title while Nand secured the men’s crown after recording the highest overall points in their respective divisions.
The tournament was initiated by the Suva City Council Hibiscus Committee and SCC Special Administrator Jone Gonewai, with organisers hoping the event will become an annual fixture during the festival.
Tournament chairman Alex Konrote said the inaugural event was a fitting way to celebrate the milestone anniversary.
“Again another glorious day of golf and what a way to celebrate 70 years of the Hibiscus Festival with a golf tournament in one of the Pacific’s oldest Golf Courses right here in the capital city,” Konrote said.
The tournament also brought together the 12 Hibiscus contestants, who took part in the prize presentations, while Speaker of Parliament and Fiji Golf Club patron Filimone Jitoko and Minister for Immigration Viliame Naupoto were among the golfers.
Tomasi Tuivuna claimed the Professional Winner title with 34 points, while junior golfer Christian Qiolevu produced the standout score of the tournament’s junior division, finishing as overall champion with 51 points.
Seresio Colailago won the A Grade with 40 points, Gyanesh Reuben topped B Grade with 39, and Christopher Surendra took C Grade with 38.
Sunita Matthews won the Ladies Overall category with 35 points.
Qiolevu’s 51 points saw him finish ahead of Ethan Qiokevu on 47 and Isireli Digitaki on 40 in the junior division.
Lusi Leqa and Eroni Madanawa claimed the women’s and men’s Longest Drive honours, while Seini Loga and Niu Tabanakaiwai were recognised for Best Dressed.
The inaugural Hibiscus Golf Classic provided a competitive day of golf while introducing a new sporting tradition to Suva’s 70th Hibiscus Festival celebrations.
