Mithum Perera puts Sri Lanka on top

by Richard Dwight

The consistent Mithum Perera, the talented 18-year-old golfer and son of former golf champion, Nandasena Perera lived up to his reputation when in the first round yesterday of the 113th amateur open at the RCGC. Perera with an excellent score of 66 led the All India reigning champion Siddikur Rehman, the Nepal champ as well who notched 67.

Perera did well to be 5 under par in the first 9 holes having birdied 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 then birdied the 12th to go 6 under par dropped a shot on the 13th to be 5 under par. Parred the balance to card a five under 66 to lead the amateur championship by 1 shot over Bangladesh Rehman 67.

Chirag Kumar of India followed with 69 while Sri Lanka's K. Prabagaran and India's Amardeep Malik had 71 each with Tissa Chandradasa of Sri Lanka scoring 72, India's Vikrant Chopra and three times Sri Lankan title holder, Simarjeet Singh scored 73 each. By virtue of the individual gross score Mithum Perera wins the Victoria Cup with Siddikur Rehman as runner-up. For the individual net score Siddikur Rehman wins the Illangakoon Trophy 66 with R. Logarajah 68 as runner-up.

Play continues today with the 2nd round both in the individual open and the team event Sri Lanka has done well after the first round.