SL Open Golf C'ships begin

Anuradha Abeysekera

A former National golfer J.M.D. Indika returned to the game and took the lead by carding one over par 72 on the opening day of the Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship's first round, teed off at the Royal Colombo Golf course yesterday. B. A Sanjeewa with one over par 74 and G. Harrison with 75 followed him respectively in second and third places.

Record number of 115 entries included some 'Heavy Weights' of the sport and 27 players pre-qualified been Professionals, past winners, Amateurs with single figure handicaps. Altogether 98 golfers participated in the qualifying round to fill thirty seven places to complete the sixty four spots available for the Sri Lanka Open Championship first round.

Defending champion R.A.Anura Rohana will receive a tough challenge from professional Mithun Perera and Amateur Champion N. Thangarajah along with a list of seasoned players consist of several past winners.

The field of 64 players will be pruned to 40 when cut-off will be applied after the first two rounds.

There would be an added incentive to Amateur golfers and Ladies with the inaugural UTE -CAT Challenge Trophy 2012 for men and the Pam Fernando Challenge Trophy for ladies which will be conducted in conjunction with the first two rounds of the UTE-CAT Sri Lanka Men's Open Golf Championship 2011.

The Sri Lanka Men Open Championship 2011 is truly a 'Heavy Weight' Tournament with sponsorship from Caterpillar earth moving equipment agents UTE been the principal sponsor and CML-MTD construction Ltd, leader in highway and bridge construction as a Co-sponsor and the beverage sponsorship been provided by Coca-Cola.