Baynes expelled from Tobago golf

Baynes, a Tobago native who has won the championship three of the five years it has been staged, was ignominously expelled after he was seemingly cruising to victory after two rounds of the three-day tournament.

Last night Haroon Joseph, Tournament Director of Caribbean Swing Promotion, organisers of the South Caribbean Open, confirmed that Baynes was expelled after he was found to have made an infringement of one of the rules.

Joseph said Baynes improved his lie in the rough on the No 2 hole in Saturday’s second round of the tournament and as a result his closing score was not accurate.

He said that although no official complaint was made, a member of Baynes’ group who witnessed the infringement was overheard relating the incident.

Joseph said the Tournament Committee investigated this and interviewed Baynes who denied any wrongdoing.

After considering all the evidence, also gathered from outside of the golf course, the penalty of expulsion in this case was handed down.

Baynes was leading by an astounding 16 shots on Saturday after the second round and played the third and final round yesterday unknowing that he was the subject of an investigation.

In the aftermath of the shocking development Mitchum Jasper was declared winner of the Championship Division, by three strokes over Kervil Cowie, a national junior player from Tobago.

Jasper had rounds of 79, 77 and 74 for a combined total of 230. Cowie shot 80, 77 and 79 for an accumulated score of 237.

In third place was Desrond Ambrose whose 80, 76 and 82 yesterday put him one shot off the pace.

RESULTS —

Championship Division— 1 Mitchum Jasper 79-77-74 (230); 2 Kervil Cowie 81-77-79 (237); 3 Desrond Ambrose 80-76-82 (238)

Open First Division— 1 Kevin Williams 89-78-79 (246); 2 Fitz Neptune 85-80-86 (251); 3 Suresh Jagessar 87-85-85 (257)

Open Second Division— 1 Nick Carmona 88-87-88 (263); 2 Stephen Scoon 88-89-87 (264); 3 Gary Baynes 95-89-82 (266)

Senior First Division— 1 Rolly Davis 85-81-80 (246); 2 Surooj Harripersad 84-84-82 (250); 3 Fabian Lee Foon 88-85-82 (255)

Senior Second Division— 1 Shabir Khan 90-86-85 (261); 2 Shaffiath Khan 94-79-86 (262); 3 Maurice Mathura 90-85-88 (263)

Stableford Division— (After two days— Combined total) 1 Eric Griffith 99; 2 Paul Camacho 99; 3 Kendal Aleong 97

Nearest The Pin (Day Three)— Asraph Khan (5th Hole); John Henry (7th Hole); Neil Mohammed (14th Hole); John Henry (17th Hole)