Merry stays clear with best round in Junior Golf Open

SIMON MERRY underlined his great promise yesterday shooting a four under par 68 to extend his dominance in the 15 and Under Boys Category in the second round of the Republic Bank Trinidad and Tobago Junior Golf Open.

Merry, even par 72 on Monday, has a two-day aggregate of 140 and leads his compatriot Ben Martin by five strokes. Martin shot a one under 71 yesterday to add to his disastrous first day’s total of seven over 79 and storm back into the reckoning. Tied with Martin is Robbie Llanos who returned three over 75 yesterday, his identical score on opening day. South Trinidad’s Dahomey Khadera is next with a 72 yesterday (150) with Barbadian Ryan de Gale of Barbados next, three shots adrift of the pack, carding two under 70 for a two-day total of 153. Again, the bone hard St Andrew’s Golf Club course at Moka, Maraval, posed a tricky proposition for the young golf stars but the young TT brigade maintained their stranglehold in the other categories against their overseas counterparts.

Diana Torry looks set to sweep the 18 and Under Girls Category after shooting a one over 72 (153) yesterday to hold an amazing 47-stroke lead on her closest rival, Tobagonian Nikesha Trim who had a poor 26 over 98 (200) yesterday. In the 18 and Under Boys Division, Shane Costelloe, one under 71 yesterday now has a two-day aggregate of 148 to take over the lead by 13 shots. Antiguan Adrian Norford, seven over 79 yesterday for 161 overall is next followed by Kittian Denzille Phillip, 15 over 87 yesterday (162), relinquishing his first day dominance. Joshua Galt holds on to the 12 and Under Boys Division, returning a eight over 80 for a total of 164 shots, six better than Glen Charlett (84) who has an aggregate of 170. Third is Simon Proverbs, second to Galt in the Barbados Junior Open last weekend. He shot a six over 78, three strikes adrift of the top two.

Tracey Clarke is 28 shots clear in the 15 and Under Girls Division with a two-day total of 149. Her 75 yesterday was better than Martine De Gannes’s 80 (177), who is tied in second with Victoria Seenath, 87 yesterday. In the 12 and Under Girls Category, Kelsey Lou Hing broke a four-way tie of the first round, shooting a 96 (202), ten strokes better than Catherine Clarke, 102 yesterday (208) and Anneke Ward who returned 103 for 209 overall. Today is the final day of the tournament.