NORWEGIAN Karl Steen returned to his homeland Tuesday January 6 with the Lemuria Cup in his possession after winning last Saturday's (January 3) competition sponsored by the five-star hotel.

Played on the 18-hole Lemuria golf course, the competition – the first for the 2004 season – attracted 30 members of the Seychelles Golf Club on Mahe and some hotel guests.

A first-timer here, Steen, being an amateur golfer who has been practising the sport for 15 years, won the stableford 18-hole competition with 31 points.

"It was a pretty tough competition played on a nice course and I enjoyed every minute of it," said Norwegian Steen, who spent 10 days at the luxurious hotel based at Anse Kerlan on Praslin.

Second place was occupied by Jayant Mayadas with 30 points, the same total as another hotel guest, J-P. Fontaine, who was third.

Nearest to the pin was Joe Elisa, while William Weidner finished with the best gross score of 26 and had the longest drive among the male players.

The female player with the longest drive was Bernadette Smith.