Sri Lanka Golf Open Round 1 off to a great start

The Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship got off to a great start with the Sri Lankan top professionals who went on the Indian Tour in 2011 filling the first three places after Round 1.

K. Prabagaran from Nuwara Eliya Golf Club who turned Pro in 2010 carded a brilliant 5 under par 66 to hold a 2 stroke lead from Mithun Perera who in spite of ill-health and high temperature returned a 3 under par 68.

Prabagaran after a steady even par front nine, reeled off a flurry of birdies for a 5 under 31 back nine.

Defending champion R.A. Anura Rohana got off to a solid start being 3 under par after 8 holes but could not add any more birdies to his score and finished on 2 under par 69, 3 strokes behind the leader after day 1.

21-year-old amateur Zen Dharmaratne was on fire starting the Opening Round Birdie, Birdie, Birdie on what is considered as 3 tough opening holes on any Golf Course. However, even though Zen had a total of seven birdies, he could not capitalise as he dropped shots making a few errors but still managed to finish on 1 under par 70 to take fourth place after Round 1.

In joint fifth place were professionals Lalith Kumara, Tissa Chandradasa and young amateur from Victoria Golf Resort Vijitha Bandara who were tied on even par 71.

In the Inaugural UTE-CAT Challenge Trophy for Men, Nimal Wettimuni led the field with a Gross 76 2 strokes from S. Vairavanathan, the Captain of the Royal Colombo Golf Club in a field of 35 member golfers.

In the Pam Fernando Challenge Trophy for Ladies consistent Niloo Jayathilake led the field with a Gross score of 79 followed closely by Shayanika Fernando 1 stoke behind and veteran lady golfer Swen Selvaratnam a further stroke behind.

Leader Board after Round 1 Sri Lanka Open 2011

66 - K. Prabagaran

68 - Mithun Perera

69 – R.A. Anura Rohana

70 – Zen Dharmaratne

71 – B.G. Lalith Kumara, Tissa Chandradasa, Vijitha Bandara

72 – Danusha Perera, M. Arumugam

73 – N. Thangarajah



UTE-CAT Challenge Trophy for Men

76 – Nimal Wettimuni

78 – S. Vairavanathan

79 – Lalith Rohith

81 – Zaffar Sikkander

83 – Ian Tait



Pam Fernando Challenge Trophy for Women

79 – Niloo Jayathilake

80 – Shayanika Fernando

81 – Swen Selvaratnam

90 – Sandya Sathasivam

91 – A. Rasika