Defending Champion K. Prabagaran , Mithun Perera, M. Dharma from India and M. Arumugam shared a first day lead by two strokes from R.A. Anura Rohana the seven time winner chasing a record 8th win in the ‘Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open’.
Sisira Kumara, Tissa Chandradasa and Zen Dharmaratne scored one under par each to lie in joint sixth place, three strokes behind the joint leaders.
The ‘Solar Therm Sri Lanka Open’ player list was pruned to 80 from the original 116 entries, after the Pre-Qualify round played on Monday. There were 66 automatic qualifiers.
Much interest was generated with the participation of overseas Professionals and apart from Dharma of India and Zen Dharmaratne, Indian Sandeep Syal, Bangladeshi M.D. Sayum and Swedish Andreas Adler scored over par, lying further down the field.
The contest is set to tighten up as the tournament unfolds, with fancied players such as Thangaraja, Vijitha Bandara, Lalith Kumara and the foreign challenge not too far away.
However, Mithun Perera looking for his first Win in the Sri Lanka Open, his father Nandasena Perera having won seven times, is well placed with a cosy four under par. Prabagaran the defending champ is also in ‘pole’ position and veteran Arumugam too completing the four-way lead after day one!
The 4th UTE-CAT Challenge Trophy 2015 for the members, was also played concurrently and Kushal Johnpillai lead the field with a sensational one-over par, 72 four strokes ahead of Prashan Peiris and the same positions were held by both in the Nett event too, Kushal on 67 to Prashan’s 72 nett. The Sponsors of the event Solar Therm, UTE-CAT, CML MTD and the SLGU can be content with impressive performances on day one with much excitement anticipated in the three rounds to come! A Cut-off will be implemented after day 2.
LEADER BOARD AFTER ROUND 1 – “SOLAR THERM SRI LANKA OPEN 2014”
67- M.Arumugam, M. Dharma, Mithun Perera, K. Prabagaran
69 – R. A. Anura Rohana
70 – Sisira Kumara, Zen Dharmaratne, Tissa Chndradasa
72- Kushal Johnpillai
73 – N. Thangaraja,Vijitha Bandara, B.G. Lalith Kumara, Prabudhdha Silva
74- J.J. Kumar, J.M.D. Indika, G. Harrison
75- Sandeep Syal, R. Pathmanathan, Andreas Adler, B.A.Rohana
