Top juniors in TT Open Golf

The Trinidad and Tobago Open Golf Championships, now in its 97th year, have proven to be a pillar of sport in the region and is the perfect start to the Trinidad and Tobago Golf Association’s (TTGA) 2004 season. After, according to TTGA officials, a good run last year which included the capture of the Hoerman Cup in the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, the national team will again tee off against top regional and international competition at the St Andrews Golf Course, Moka on Thursday.

Launch of the championships took place on Monday at the St Andrews Golf Club at Moka, Maraval. Golfers from Barbados, Curacao, St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua, the United States of America and Canada are expected to compete in the four-day tournament which has been around since 1907. This year a  full field of 138 top players are listed to start. The TT contingent comprise promising junior golfers Shane Costelloe, Simon Merry and Ben Martin who topped the last years Men’s First Flight and TTGA nominee for WITCO “Sportsman of the Year” Carlos “Sexy” Baynes among others. Maria Nunes attested to the readiness of the course for the tournament despite minor challenges and the former world junior champ painted a perfect picture ahead of the 6.30 am tee time on Thursday.

The only 72-hole individual championship of its kind in the region, the championships provide prospective golfers a chance for places on the Caribbean Amateur and World Amateur Golf Championships teams. Top performers will  receive double points toward their selection. With this in mind the TTGA introduced the Super Seniors Division into this year’s competition to facilitate the specific need of the national team for Caribbean Amateurs which will be hosted by the Bahamas in mid-August. Day prizes will be up for the player with the highest gross in each of the six flights, providing further inspiration for the already competitive field strengthened by the presence of key members of the Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados national teams. Last year’s overall winner, St Croix’s John Streibech, will not defend his crown as he is currently on duty for St Xavier’s College in the United States but the presence of Trevor Levine of St Kitts will make sure that the title race will still be keen.

The “Late Start” and “Slow Play” rules will be enforced to make sure the competition moves smoothly with a two shot penalty and possible disqualification looming over offenders. The championships are sponsored by Evian Water, HiLo Food Stores, Coca-Cola, Tracmac, the Cable Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Global Santa Fe, Carlsberg and Tidco. Interested golfers who have not done so are asked to register by tomorrow at the St Andrews Golf Club at Moka, Maraval.