DIGICEL Guyana yesterday launched its 2015 edition of the Open golf tournament with the announcement that it will include a Seniors’ class of the tournament when the event tees off this weekend. According to captain of the Lusignan Golf Club, Chatterpaul Deo, under whose ambit the tournament falls, in this new class only persons over the age of sixty will be eligible for the Medal Play format tournament.
The usual flights (0-9, 10-18 & 19-28) for the males and (0-36) for the females, however, will remain with the male champion of the two-day tournament being decided on the gross score while the females will be decided on the net.
Deo said that over sixty players have been registered up to yesterday, 18 of whom are foreigners, adding, “I expect a further 20 participants. So we will go above the cut mark of 80, but I’ll have to see how to adjust because we do not want to turn away any player; we want to facilitate everybody.”
He indicated that once this limit is exceeded, they will have to start earlier than expected, with the initial start being pegged at 5:30.
He noted that the United States of America (USA), Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname will have representatives at this tournament, which is highly considered the flagship tournament for golf locally
Meanwhile, president of the LGC, Oncar Ramroop, thanked Digicel for their support for yet another year.
He continued, “We are all set, all prepared for this weekend, we may run into some difficulties because the possibility exists that we may have more than 80 persons and we think that is probably the maximum number that we can handle. We are not sure where it’s gonna finally end but it’s going to be very interesting.”
Louanna Abrams, Senior Sponsorship and Events executive, during the launch yesterday said, “As you know Digicel’s interest in sport came alive 6 years ago, and, as such, the company has decided to sponsor this Guyana Open. We label it as the Digicel Guyana Open and it has been quite successful every year. This year we expect a large turnout.”
Last year’s winner was Avinash Persaud who took his tally for the tournament up to 5, as he dethroned his brother and 2013 champion Avinda Kishore.
He had a superior overall gross 144 and a net 140 after registering a gross of 70 and a net 68 for the day playing off a 2 handicap.
In the Ladies division, Joaan Deo finished with an overall net of 141 and a gross of 181 to claim the title and in the process dethroned multiple-time champion Christine Suhkram.
Mohamed Shaffie beat Sepaul Suknanan and Roy Cummings to nab the 10-18 Flight.