Mithun Perera clinches Sri Lanka Open Golf title

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr. reporting from Victoria

Sri Lanka's top ranked golfer Mithun Perera staged a magnificent rally to win the 121st Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship 2008 organised by the Sri Lanka Golf Union and the Victoria Golf and Country Resort concluded at the Victoria Golf Course at Rajawella off Kandy yesterday.

Yesterday was the round four of the competition and when the day's play started Pakistan's Hali Hai was leading with 7 under and Mithun Perera was three strokes behind with 4 under. But as the play progressed Mithun Perera caught up with the Pakistani and even overtook him with a photo finish birdie in the last hole. In the final reckoning Mithun Perera had an aggregate of 285 gross and Pakistan's Hali Hai had 287 and was pipped at the post by two strokes.

Highlight of Mithun Perera's four round play was on the first day he had 3 birdies and an Eagle and on the second day just 3 birdies and on the third day had 5 birdies and on the final day 6 birdies to lift the championship title.

A boquet should go to the Organising Committee headed the President of the Sri Lanka Golf Union Ron Bakelman, Secretary Lal Wickrematunga, Sheron Fernando, Tony Witham and two youngsters Ms. Dhanushika Medagoda and Ms. Nicolla Bonifass for doing a grand job.

Mithun Perera who was in the SAARC Games 2007 winning Sri Lanka team has previously won this championship in 2006 and he certainly following the footsteps of his illustrious father Nandasena Perera.

Sri Lanka golfers rounded off a good performance by winning their annual tie with Pakistan for the Zia-Ul-Haq Trophy. Sri Lanka team had K. Prabagaran, Mithun Perera, T. Chandradasa and R. Pathmanathan.

The results of other competitions played along side are:

Havelock Trophy (Senior Gross Score): Winner Ian Tait, runner-up - Sidath Wettimuni.

L.V.R. Fernano Trophy (Seniors Gross Score): Winner Ian Tait, runner-up - Sidath Wettimuni.

Victoria Cup (Best Individual Gross Score 1st Round): winner - Mithun Perera, runner-up - K. Prabagaran.

Illankoon Trophy (Individual Net Score 1st Round): Winner - K. Prabagaran, runner-up - Wijitha Bandara.

Pin Fernando Trophy (Individual Gross Score 2nd Round): Winner - M. Shahid (Bangladesh), runner-up - R. Pathmanathan (Sri Lanka).

Paralakamendi Trophy (All National Teams Total Cross Score): Winner - Mithun Perera and K. Prabagaran, runner-up M. Ali Hai and Tariq Mohmood (Pakistan).

Zia Ul Haq Trophy: Winner - Sri Lanka, runner-up Pakistan.

121st Sri Lanka Amateur Open Golf Championship 2006: Winner - Mithun Perera 285 points, runner-up H. Hali Hai (Pakistan) 287 points.