Mithun wins Pin Fernando trophy in majestic style

Eighteen Semi finalists battled to find two who would qualify to finally meet to settle for the handsome trophy commemorating Sri Lanka’s greatest golfing legend, Pin Fernando.

Mithun Perera was brilliant in stroke play through the forenoon of Saturday at the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo. Playing off plus 2 he cracked a magical gross 64 studded with birdies on the 2nd, 6th, 9th, 10th, 14th & 16th crowned with a superb eagle on the 7th. Perera walked into the finals. Coming behind to quality was Jin Yong Kim, a powerful Korean stroke player carrying a handicap of 16. He was in great form carving a splendid nett 68. Coming further down the line was Avanka Herath nett 73 and Ajit Dissanayake nett 74. V. T. Sunderalingam, the ‘super cop’ messed throughout the forenoon to nearly miss a century in his performance of nett 86. Lal Wickrematunge punished an untidy century riddled with aquaphobia. He was quick to volunteer “Watch me next time!”

Finals
Mithun Perera’s handicap was lifted to plus 3 after his magnificent gross 64. Unperturbed, the son of former Caddie Nandasena Perera, moved into battle against Korean Jin Yong Kim conceding 18 strokes – a stroke a hole.

In perfect fettle and in the grove, the teenager returned to pick up birdies which he did effectively on the 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th and 16th plus a beaut repeat eagle on the 7th. Kim struggled to keep abreast and eventually got all square on the 18th ~ a great performance. Then came sudden death and the maestro got brilliant. A stunning drive and a soft superbly calculated 9 iron placed him 2 ft. from the pin. His pat responded, and with that he captured the handsome Pin Fernando trophy.

Awards
Priya Fernando, the CEO of United Tractors, played a magnificent role in putting this great event together. Congrats Priya, and may the memory of a great golfer and a complete gentleman, Pin Fernando, live long!