As the 123rd Sri Lanka Amateur Open Championships, the world’s second oldest golf competition, drew to a close on July 29 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club in Colombo, it was greatly encouraging for Sri Lankan golf to see Mithun Perera and Shayanika Fernando walk up to claim the winner’s trophies for the men’s and ladies’ championships.
Shayanika Fernando in full swing.
Pic by Sanka Vidanagama |
Over the four days of play the two stamped their authority over a host of golfers, among them several from India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh. Mithun effortlessly overran all his fellow competitors to finish with an aggregate of 272, comfortably ahead of Bangladesh’s Mohammed Jakiruzzaman who came in second with 288.
“I have won this title before in 2006 and 2008 but it means a lot to do it for a third time. Since I am a member of the golf club and play on the course a lot I felt like I was playing on my home court,” Mithun explains.
He goes on to say that after years of working hard at his game he feels the time is now right for him to make the transition in to the role of a professional golfer.
“I am turning pro after the Asian Games in November. Until then I want to really do well in the tournaments leading up to it. My main objective is to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.”
Shayanika in contrast is content with her place in local golf and bears no thought of turning professional. “I think the time for me to do that has passed and to do it now would be really difficult because the life of a professional golfer is extremely demanding. Right now I am just trying my best to balance my family life, golf and my job,” Shayanika says.Shayanika’s performance in the women’s open event was brimming with the class and fluency she exhibits off the green, as she staved off the challenge of the much favoured Anouk Chitty, beating her 5/3 in the match play final.
Mithun Perera says he is eying gold at the Asian Games. |
“It’s a dream come true to win this title, especially after becoming the runner up in 97, 99 and 2009. From here I have to just keep working on the weaker points of my game and continue to get better,” she states.
These sentiments are echoed by Mithun, who adds that much work has to be done to negate the weakness in his long game.
“I have to keep working hard at it to improve. That along with my physical fitness are two things that I am focusing on during my training,” Mithun reveals.
Training for Mithun consists of a gruelling eight hour daily session which targets all the different aspects of his overall game. However Shayanika’s practice regimen though rigorous is much less frequent.
“I practice only three times a week but it’s tough to squeeze in more sessions because I have to work and take care of my daughter,” she explains.
She exerts though that her family’s support is a vital component in the game she brings on to the course.
“Golf is such a mentally challenging sport because there is such a minute margin for error. If you go out there in the wrong frame of mind there is no way you are going to perform at your best. That is why you need a lot of support from the people around you and I am grateful I get this both from my team, especially my long time caddy Rupasinghe and my wonderful family.”
Speaking about the progress of golf in Sri Lanka, both players express great enthusiasm and hope but lament about the non existence of any public golf courses, an issue that needs to be addressed if more people are to be drawn in to the game, they say. “I was lucky because my father was a golfer and that is how I got to play golf from a very early age. If there are public courses then players who are not able to be members of a club can start playing the game,” Mithun says.
Shayanika supports Mithun’s view but is wary about the creation of such courses and instead stressed the importance of strengthening the country’s junior golfing ranks. “It’s extremely important to develop and discover young talent, especially girls because there are very few of them coming into the game. These juniors need to be pushed hard and need to play with better players in order to gradually raise their standard.” |
E-mail
