Dedicates 12th win to late stepfather

A sensational one over par on the final day catapulted Avinash Persaud to his 12th overall ‘Guyana Open’ title when the rebranded event was played under a new name, GTT Business Solutions Invitational Golf Tournament, at the Lusignan Golf Club over the weekend.

The 32-year-old, who has won the prestigious tournament in 12 of the last 14 years, had to dig deep after starting Sunday in sixth position, four strokes away from the leader, Vishal Dhani, who made an impressive gross 73 from his six handicaps.

Dhani followed up with a solid 79, but he could not stop fellow Guyanese Persaud, who was almost flawless with a gross 71 playing off a three handicap.

Third place went to Fiji’s Jalen Raman who played without a handicap.

On Tuesday, Persaud said via social media that the win was achieved through hard work and commitment to the sport and through the guidance of God.

“To my families and friends who believe in me without any doubt I do appreciate it and to those who did not support me and did all they can so this year will not be mine. I did it without you too but it was all motivation for me to be who I am today. Being 12-time Guyana Open Golf Champion in 14 years, I didn’t only do it for myself but also for my country in which the championship can stay. I feel truly blessed.”

According to Persaud, this year was also bittersweet because he lost his stepfather. “I have competed with 96 players such as scratch golfers from various countries and to win and keep my championship, I am proud of myself, especially in this year where I lost my stepfather who was mostly a father figure to me, this is for him. I know he would have been so proud too.”

The gross tournament also had 18-year-old Trinidadian Chloe Adoja finishing first in the female division. The teen led by nine strokes after day one, and although last year’s champion Shanella London came close on the second day, this year’s female title was Adoja’s from the start.

Former champion Christine Sukhram took third.

The competition included players from the United States, Canada, Fiji, Suriname, Barbados, Mexico, and Colombia.

The overall results for the tournament were as follows:

MEN
0-9 Gross
1st Avinash Persaud
2nd Vishal Dhani
3rd Jalen Raman

0-9 Net Day 1 and 2
1st Vishal Dhani
2nd Mohanlall Dindanauth

10-18 Gross
1st Miguel Yunes
2nd Ayube Subhan
3rd Seepaul Sukhnanan

10-18 Net Day 1 and 2
1st Miguel Yunes
2nd Ayube Subhan

19-28 Gross
1st Mahendra Bhagwandin
2nd Miguel Oviedo
3rd Bholawram Deo

19-28 Net Day 1 and 2
1st Arnold Deo
2nd Mahendra Bhagwandin

LADIES
Gross Day 1 and 2
1st Chloe Adoja
2nd Shanella London
3rd Christine Sukhram

Best Net Day 1 and 2
1st Sabi Dhori
2nd Eureka Giddings
3rd Chloe Adoja

Other prizes

Men
Longest Drive Day 1 – Richard Haniff
Longest Drive Day 2 – Avinash Persaud
Nearest to Pin Day 1 – Maxim Mangra
Nearest to Pin Day 2 – Marlon Abena

Ladies
Longest Drive Day 1 – Shanella London
Longest Drive Day 2 – Chloe Adoja
Nearest to Pin Day 1 – Norma Yunes
Nearest to Pin Day 2 – Shanella London