Merry putts away Coca Cola

LEADING Trinidad and Tobago junior golfer Simon Merry putted a 15-foot birdie to claim the Men’s First Flight category at the two-day Coca Cola St Andrew’s Golf Club Championships, held recently at the St Andrew’s Golf Course, Moka, Maraval. Merry and fellow teenager Ben Martin were deadlocked at 146 after 36 holes, with a playoff on the 18th hole required to determine the winner. In the end, Merry held his nerve to prevail overall, with Patrick Boocock finishing third with 149.

Another playoff was needed in the Men’s Second Flight, with Ahamad Ali defeating elder brother Asraph on the third playoff hole. Jean de Meillac placed third with 162. The winner of the Men’s Third Flight was also determined via the playoff route, with Stephen Mackay getting the better of junior Michael Montano, after both completed their rounds with 172. Third place went to Hamish Knox with 174. Sonny Maharaj had no such tension as he cruised to the Men’s Fourth Flight title with 166, 10 shots clear of Carl Chatoor while Peter Pasea next on 182.

The Women’s First, Second and Third Flight categories were just as keenly contested as the men. In the First Flight, Amoy Chang Fong, with a score of 157, edged Martine de Gannes by one shot, with joint third-place finishers Victoria Seenath and Pauline Raynor on 159. Veteran Kitty Murphy prevailed in the playoff against 14-year-old Kelsey Lou Hing in the Second Flight, after the pair were locked on 176, one ahead of Synthia Nelson, while Natalya Rahamatula, with 183, copped the Third Flight, with Patricia Inglefield next on 184.