Indian trio lead 133rd CEAT Sri Lanka Amateur Open

Indian golfers Manoj Sreeramappa, Varun Muthappa, and Shayaan Khadri took an early lead at the 133rd CEAT Sri Lanka Amateur Open Golf Championship, while Sri Lanka’s Kaya Daluwatte emerged as the frontrunner in the Sri Lanka Stroke Play Championship after the first round at the Royal Colombo Golf Club yesterday.

In the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Team Championship, the visiting Pakistani team holds a narrow one-stroke lead over the Sri Lankans. Pakistan’s Raja Muhammad Israt posted a solid 74, and Malik Shoaib carded a 72, bringing their combined score to 146. The Sri Lankan ‘A’ team, represented by Chalitha Pushpika and Chanaka Perera, trails just behind with a total of 147, with Pushpika scoring 73 and Perera 74.

Manoj Sreeramappa put up a stellar performance, carding a three-under-par 67 to secure the top spot on the leaderboard. India’s Varun Muthappa followed Sreeramappa closely, delivering an even-par 70, securing the second position. Shayaan Khadri, also of India, and Pakistan’s Malik Shoaib both recorded rounds of two-over-par 72, placing them in joint third. Sri Lanka’s Chalitha Pushpika remains within striking distance with a score of 73, just one stroke behind Shoaib and Khadri.

Vinoth B of Nuwara Eliya Golf Club matched Pushpika’s 73, while rising talent Jacob Norton posted a 74, positioning him seventh on the leaderboard. Tied at 74 alongside Norton are Raja Muhammad Israt of Pakistan, Samith Dakhane of India, and Sri Lanka’s Chanaka Perera, rounding out the top ten contenders.

Kaya Daluwatte leads the Sri Lanka Stroke Play Championship with a first-round score of five-over-par 76. Anouk Chitty, Secretary of Sri Lanka Golf, carded a commendable 83 to secure second place, while Jade Jiggens followed in third with a gross score of 86.

The tournament continues today, with tight competition expected as players vie for a strong position on the leaderboard.