Sri Lankan golfers shine on National Golf’s opening day

ISLAMABAD: Sri Lankan golfers won the JR Jayawardene Trophy with a better performance on the opening day of the 63rd National Amateur Golf that started here Thursday at the Margallah Greens amid tough weather conditions.

Sri Lankan pair of Uchitha Akash and Chalitha Pushpika carded a joint 148 (74 each) to win the trophy. Two Pakistan teams Qasim Ali Khan and Salman Jahangir (150 aggregate) and Nauman Iiyas and Arsalan Khan (159) were left behind on second and third positions.

JR Jayawardene Trophy was contested on the first 18 holes on the opening day in the four-day event.

Hosts of golfers led by Nouman Ilyas emerged as early leaders in the individual category of the National Amateur Golf. The 71-stroke course saw, Ilyas, Abdullah Ansar Raja, and Shahzeb Jahan all managing two over 73 for the day, six other golfers are occupying the next spot with Salman Jahangir, Sri Lankan golfers Uchitha Akash, Chalitha Pushpika, Malik Shoaib, Raja Israr and Khalid Mehmood carding three over 74 on the opening day.