Jamshedpur: Anura Rohana of Sri Lanka fired a phenomenal nine-under-62 at the Golmuri Golf Course on Thursday to grab the opening round lead at the 11th TATA Open. Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka, Sandeep Syal of Chennai and Bangalore’s Abhishek Jha are in joint second place at six-under-65.

On Thursday one half of the field played its 18 holes at the par-72 Beldih Golf Course while the golfers in the other half completed their rounds at the par-71 Golmuri Golf Course. The Golmuri Golf Course has recently been expanded from nine holes to eighteen holes. On Friday both halves of the field will switch venues (those who played at Beldih on day one, play eighteen holes at Golmuri on day two and vice-versa).

Anura Rohana, a winner of four professional titles, wrecked havoc at the newly-designed 18-hole Golmuri Golf Course with an eagle and eight birdies besides a bogey. The 39-year-old from Colombo was on fire from the very outset as he collected his first birdie on the second hole. Anura then drove the green on the par-4 fourth hole and sank a four-footer to register an eagle. He landed his shots within four feet on the sixth and ninth to pick up two more strokes.

Rohana dropped a bogey on the 11th but followed that up with a splendid birdie on the par-4 12th where he once again drove the green. An up and down from 10 yards earned him another birdie on the 13th. The happy-go-lucky Sri Lankan ended the day with a flourish as he birdied the last three holes (16th, 17th and 18th) to establish the course record at the newly-designed course.

Rohana said, “All aspects of my game were in top shape today. I couldn’t have hit it better. I drove the green on two of the par-4 holes. I made greens in regulation on all holes and didn’t miss any putts. It was a good day to shoot a low number since there was no wind. As far as my strategy is concerned, I’ll look to hit the greens and make two-putts from here on and strive to end up with a four-day total of about 15 under.”

Mithun Perera, another Sri Lankan, shot a bogey-free six-under-65 at Golmuri to be placed tied second. His round featured an eagle on the fourth and four birdies. Sandeep Syal, like Perera, also returned a bogey-free 65 at the Golmuri Golf Course that placed him joint second. Syal’s round included an eagle on the 12th and four birdies.

Abhishek Jha, who also played at Golmuri, recorded an eagle on the 16th, five birdies and a bogey to join Perera and Syal in tied second at six-under-65.

Arshdeep Tiwana of the Golden Greens Golf & Country Club posted the best score at the Beldih Golf Course in round one. Tiwana’s five-under-67 placed him tied fifth along with Lucknow’s Vijay Kumar who produced a five-under-66 at Golmuri.

Defending champion Vinod Kumar of Delhi carded a four-under-68 at Beldih to be placed seventh.

By Indian Sports News Network