Mithun leads Lankan charge
It’s pro-golf time and the Asian tour will be teed off on Monday at the Ridgeways. On show will be Rashid Khan, the tour 13th ranked player — a Multiple Winner of the Asian. He leads a strong contingent of Professionals during the Open Golf Championship, organised by the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU). As for the Sri Lankans our local hero Mithun Perera, will lead the challenge. For Mithun the challenge is two pronged. Besides the stake in the Asian Tour he is looking to take custody of the Open crown also. Then the list is scrolled down. R. A. Anura Rohana ranked 4th in the Professional Golf Tournament India (PGTI) 2016, Thangaraja the defending Champion, K. Prabagaran twice champion in 2014 and 2013, Lalith Kumara, Vijitha Bandara, former Winner Amarapadma,
Tissa Chandradasa all are armed with their clubs ready for the challenge along with the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) Professional Jehan De Saram. Among the Indian and the Pakistani golfers M. Dharma, the 2015 Runner up, C. G. Somiah, Sandeep Syal, Syeb Saqib Ahmed, together with Aadil Jehangir, Ahamed Shahid Javed, Waseem Rana and Danyall Jehangir will serve a pose challenge. The Sri Lankan Amateurs Amrith De Soysa, Kushal Johnpillai, Husni Uwise, Sachin De Silva, Prashan Peiris, Zaffar Sikkander, Sisira Kumara, Navinda Ranga will play among the Professionals. The JAT Sri Lanka Open 2016 has a Prize Purse of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Rupees thanks to the Title Sponsorship of JAT Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and the Co- Sponsor United Tractor & Equipment (Pvt) Ltd .
The Professional competition encouraged by sponsorship will help lay the platform for the SLGU to conduct a Sri Lanka Professional Golf Tour 2017. The Golf Open 2016 will be Teed – Off with the Pre- Qualifying Round played on Monday for the balance spots from an entry field of 110. About 70 plus automatic qualify spots leave only a few chances to play in the JAT Sri Lanka Golf Open 2016. Only 90 Golfers will Tee-Off on Tuesday in the 1st Round of the JAT Sri Lanka Open 2016. The Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, July 22 after the completion of the Final Round at the Royal Colombo Golf Club Course.