Mithun Perera fires solid 70 to bag 11th TATA Open title

Jamshedpur, November 25, 2012: Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera came home the winner at the 11th TATA Open after firing a final round of one-under-70. Perera, who totaled 11-under-274 for the tournament, finished one stroke ahead of Delhi’s Vinod Kumar.

Mithun Perera (65-72-67-70), the overnight leader, had a good start to the day as he birdied the second (par-5) after landing his chip from the bunker within a couple of inches of the flag. He went on to make pars on all the other holes. Perera, who has now won three professional titles, made some amazing par saves on the seventh and 14^th holes. He made outstanding chip-putts on the seventh and 14th.

“I hit it really well today. I was solid through the day and played regulation golf. My short-game was good in the final round, especially the putting. This win is a result of my hard-work and dedication. I’m now looking forward to ending the season with an equally good performance at the season-ending event next week,” said Perera, who has now climbed from seventh place to fifth position on the 2012 Rolex Rankings.

Vinod Kumar (68-67-70-70), the defending champion, finished runner-up after firing a one-under-70 in the final round. Vinod’s round featured four birdies and three bogeys and helped him end the tournament with a total of 10-under-275.

Om Prakash Chouhan (69-68-68-71) of Mhow finished a further stroke back in third place.

Rashid Khan of Delhi and Mhow’s Mukesh Kumar shared fourth place at eight-under-277. Rashid has now climbed from second position to first place on the 2012 Rolex Rankings.

 

Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur, the lone amateur to make the cut, won the trophy for the best performance by an amateur. Taunk was placed tied 31st at four-over-289.

Mr. H M Nerurkar, MD, TATA Steel, said, “It’s good to see a large turnout for the day. The last four days have been great for golf in Jamshedpur with lot of international participation and will definitely help increase the golfing standards of the city. I would like to congratulate Mithun Perera from Sri Lanka for winning the 11th TATA Open.”

On Sunday the entire field played nine holes each on both the courses - Beldih as well as Golmuri. While one half of the field teed off from Beldih, the other half began its round from Golmuri. Thirty golfers with the best scores at the end of round three teed off from Golmuri and finished at Beldih. The par for the combined courses was 71.

Picture caption: Mithun Perera (third from left) receives the winner's cheque of the 11th TATA Open from Mr. H M Nerurkar, MD, TATA Steel (extreme left), Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, Director, PGTI (second from left) and Mr. Partha Sengupta, VP (Raw Materials and CSI) and Captain, Beldih Golf Club (extreme right).

Press release 

Mithun Perera has the edge ahead of the final round

Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka 

Jamshedpur, November 24, 2012: Sri Lankan Mithun Perera enjoys a one-stroke advantage after the penultimate round of the 11th TATA Open. Perera carded a four-under-67 on Saturday that took his total score for the tournament to 10-under-204. The Delhi duo of Rashid Khan and Vinod Kumar along with Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow are in tied second place with matching totals of nine-under-205.

Mithun Perera (65-72-67), who was overnight tied second, had his first success of the day on the fourth hole where he made a chip-putt from 50 yards for birdie. The 26-year-old made steady progress through the day as he birdied the eighth and 12th as well. Mithun sank a 10-footer on the eighth and then found the green in two shots on the par-5 12th that set up a two-putt for birdie.

Perera, a two-time winner on the PGTI, sneaked into the lead with a birdie on the closing 18th where he landed his second shot from 130 yards to within five feet of the flag. The Colombo-based professional thus ended the day with a 67 to raise his title hopes.

“I have played very consistent golf this week. I had a bogey-free round today thanks to my good hitting. I made 15 greens in regulation today and kept the ball in play. I chatted a lot with my playing partners through the day and that really eased the pressure on me and helped me in staying calm and relaxed.

“As we are playing on two different courses on the same day, one needs to adapt well to both courses in order to play well. I have my work cut out on the final day as a lot of quality players are right behind me and will be breathing down my neck,” said Perera, who already has an individual title and a team championship win under his belt in 2012.

Rashid Khan’s (70-69-66) five-under-66 was the best round of the day and helped him climb from overnight tied fourth to tied second. Rashid’s third round featured an eagle on the fourth, four birdies and a bogey. He chipped-in for eagle on the fourth.

Vinod Kumar (68-67-70), the round two leader and defending champion, slipped to tied second on day three after firing a one-under-70. Om Prakash Chouhan (69-68-68) held on to his overnight tied second place with a round of three-under-68 on Saturday.

Anura Rohana of Sri Lanka and Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh share the fifth spot with identical totals of six-under-208.

Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur, the lone amateur to make the cut, is placed tied 28th at one-over-215.

After the cut was made at two-over-145 on Friday, the field was restricted to 56 professionals and one amateur. On Saturday the entire field played nine holes each on both the courses - Beldih as well as Golmuri. While one half of the field teed off from Beldih, the other half began its round from Golmuri. Thirty golfers with the best scores at the end of round two teed off from Golmuri and finished at Beldih. The par for the combined courses was 71. This format will also be followed in the fourth and final round on Sunday.

Press release

Defending champ Vinod Kumar takes the honours in round two

Delhi’s Vinod Kumar

Jamshedpur, November 23, 2012: Delhi’s Vinod Kumar produced a four-under-67 at the Golmuri Golf Course on Friday to take the honours in round two of the 11th TATA Open. Vinod now has a tournament total of eight-under-135. Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow and Sri Lankan Mithun Perera are in joint second place at six-under-137.

On Thursday one half of the field had played its 18 holes at the par 72 Beldih Golf Course while the golfers in the other half had completed their rounds at the par 70 Golmuri Golf Course. On Friday both halves of the field switched venues (those who played at Beldih on day one, played 18 holes at Golmuri on day two and vice-versa).

The cut was declared at two-over-145. Fifty-six professionals and one amateur made the cut.   

Defending champion Vinod Kumar (68-67), who also won on the PGTI last week, didn’t get off to a great start in round two as he missed a one-foot birdie putt on the second hole. Vinod’s tee shot on the par-4 fourth ended up in the greenside bunker from where he made an up and down for birdie. He followed that up with a 15 feet birdie putt on the seventh.

The 32-year-old Vinod, currently placed 11th on the Rolex Rankings, was a little unfortunate on the ninth as his chip for eagle from the edge of the green lipped out. He salvaged a birdie on that hole. Kumar landed it within four feet for birdies on the 10th and 13th as well. His lone bogey of the day came on the 17th where he missed a chip-putt.

Vinod said, “The win last week has really lifted my spirits and there is a lot more self-belief in me now. I was in very good hitting form today. The only disappointment in round two was missing some short putts. I’m equally comfortable at both the courses here (Beldih & Golmuri) and have adapted well on both. I’m confident of repeating last year’s performance.”

Om Prakash Chouhan (69-68) of Mhow posted a three-under-68 at Golmuri in round two to take his total to six-under-137. Chouhan made seven birdies against four bogeys. He made four consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 14th.

Mithun Perera (65-72) of Sri Lanka fired an even-par-72 at Beldih to join Chouhan in tied second place. Mithun’s round was punctuated by four birdies and four bogeys.

The Delhi trio of Shamim Khan, Rashid Khan and Anirudh Goyal were joined by Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha, Amardip Sinh Malik of Meerut, R Murthy of Bangalore and Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah in joint fourth place at four-under-139.

R Murthy’s three-under-69 was the best score at Beldih on Friday.

Mukesh Kumar of Mhow shot the day’s best score, a seven-under-64, at Golmuri. Mukesh’s bogey-free round placed him tied 11th at three-under-140. 

Round one leader Anura Rohana of Sri Lanka returned a six-over-78 at Beldih in round two to slip down to tied 11th place.

Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur was the lone amateur to make the cut. His two-day total of two-over-145 placed him tied 44th.

Press release

Anura Rohana’s phenomenal 62 earns him the opening round lead

Anura Rohana of Sri Lanka 

Jamshedpur, November 22, 2012: 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.

Press release

Gurki Shergill’s team wins the Pro-Am event of the 11th TATA Open

Jamshedpur, November 21, 2012: The Pro-Am event of the 11th TATA Open provided amateur golfers from the Tata Group and Jamshedpur an opportunity to play alongside some of the top professional golfers in the country.

The event was inaugurated by Mr T V Narendran, VP (Safety and Flat products), Tata Steel.

The Pro-Am event was played in the Team Stableford format with each team comprising of one professional and three amateurs.

The event was won by PGTI member Gurki Shergill’s team. Shergill’s team comprised of amateurs Mr. Karna Parikh, Mr. Ryan D’Costa and Mr. Ravi Parikh. Their team total was 113.

PGTI member Shamim Khan’s team finished runners-up with a team total of 112. The amateurs who made up Shamim’s team were Mr. Amitava Bakshi, Mr. Rahul Sawa and Mr. Sanjay.

The straight drive contest on hole no. 12 at Beldih Golf Course was won by Mr. Ashok Jha whose drive landed five inches from the centre of the fairway.

The closest to the pin contest on hole no. 7 at Golmuri Golf Course was won by Mr. Sanjay as his tee shot stopped nine feet and six inches from the hole.

The closest to the pin contest on hole no. 17 at Beldih Golf Course was won by Mr. Ravi Parikh. His tee shot ended up at a distance of five feet and three inches from the hole.

The longest drive contest on hole no. 8 at Golmuri Golf Course was won by Mr. Nitin Khosla who came up with a drive of 273 yards.

Picture caption: Standing left to right are Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, Director, PGTI, Mr. Farzan Heerjee, Chief - Corporate Relations, TATA Steel, Mr. T V Narendran, VP (Safety and Flat products), TATA Steel, Mr. Ravi Parikh, Mr. Karna Parikh, Mr. Ryan D’Costa and Mr. Gurki Shergill.