Rohana takes Sri Lanka Open Title

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

R. A. Anura Rohana, the reigning champion defended his crown by winning the Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship for the fourth consecutive year when the championship completed its fourth and final round at the Royal Colombo Golf course yesterday.

Anura, an experienced golfer has won the title five times before, made it for the sixth time overall this year. Anura Rohana completed with a birdie on the 18th fittingly to conclude on an even par final round and a four round total of 278 (6 under par) with a two strokes lead to the runner up K. Prabagaran. Mithun Perera finished in third place with a total of 281 (3 under par) a stroke ahead Prabagaran.

The rest of the field was a further 10 strokes behind Mithun with another professional Tissa Chandradasa on 291.

Vijitha Bandara from Victoria Golf & Country Club and N. Thangaraja from Royal Colombo Golf Club, two prominent players in the National Squad were in joint fifth place on 294, 10 over par for the four rounds.

Incidentally, the course was manicured and produced with tough flag placements, brilliantly turned out by the Royal Colombo Golf Club which was evident to the fact that the best card returned was an even par 71 by the winner and defending champion, Anura Rohana. The award ceremony was conducted at the Royal Colombo Golf Club with the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Golf Union, Dian Jayasuriya giving away the main awards.

The inaugural UTE-CAT Challenge Trophy for the best member gross score aggregate for two rounds was won by the Captain of the Royal Colombo Golf Club Sanjiv Vairavanathan and received his trophy from Priath Fernando, Chairman of UTE-CAT.

Tiru Jesudasan, Nee Fernando gave away the Pam Fernando Challenge Trophy for the best aggregate gross score for ladies over two rounds to Shayanika Fernando.

The Results :

278 R A Anura Rohana Winner/Champion (69, 67, 71, 71)
280 K Prabagaran Runner-Up (66, 70, 72, 72)
281 Mithun Perera 3rd Place (68, 67, 74, 72)
291 K A Chandradasa 4th Place (70, 74, 74, 73)
294 Vijitha Bandara (Tied for 5th place) (71, 73, 76, 74) & N Thangaraja (73, 72, 73, 76)

296 M Arumugam (Tied for 7th place) (72, 75, 77, 72) & N Ranga (82, 73, 67, 74)

302 M Amarapadma (Tied for 9th place) (77, 70, 80, 75) & B G Lalith Kumara (71, 80, 76, 75)

Results of the UTE-CAT (Men) Challenge Trophy for best aggregate gross 2 rounds:

Winner – Sanjiv Vairavanathan – 152 (78, 74), Runner Up – Lalith Rohith – 159 (79, 80), Results of the Pam Fernando Challenge Trophy for Ladies best aggregate gross 2 rounds:, Winner – Shayanika Fernando – 160 (80, 80), Runner Up – Niloo Jayatilaka – 168 (79, 89)