ON a day when the weather was not too kind, 72 golfers converged at the Lusignan Golf Course, but at the end of day one of the Guyana Open Golf two-day tournament, defending male champion, Avinash Persaud, and 2014 champion, Christine Sukhram took the lead.

Persaud demonstrated his youth and adequate experience to finish the day with a gross 71, ahead of his sibling Avinda Kishore and Mohanlall Dinanauth, who closed the day on 74 gross each.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport after the day’s play, Persaud related that he is pleased with his performance, adding that it will definitely take another hard day’s work to defend his title.

Meanwhile, on the distaff side, which saw four locals batting for supremacy, defending champion Joaan Deo had a relatively challenging day, finishing third, with a gross 89.
But, despite that result, the 27-year-old said she is very much in the game.

“Last year, I was six shots behind after day one and come back with an impressive second day and won. This year I’m seven shots from the lead; I’m a little behind, but still very much in the game. I will just have to do what I did last year and go out there and play my best golf tomorrow (today),” Deo told this publication last evening.

Meanwhile, 2014 champion Christine Sukhram is in the lead with a gross 82. Last year’s second place winner, Shaunella Webste, chalked up a gross 86 while Anasha Ally secured a gross 130.
The 28-year-old Sukhram said her game was somewhat indifferent, which eventually give her opponents some force. However, she remains confident in reclaiming the title.
Today is the scheduled final round of competition, after which will be the presentation ceremony.