TT golfers sight Hoerman Cup

HOSTS Trinidad and Tobago will take an eight-stroke lead over defending champions Puerto Rico when action  in the Hoerman Cup enters the final day today. This is when the the 47th edition of the Caribbean Golf Championships at Plantations Beach and Golf Resort course, Lowlands, Tobago, ends. Trinidad and Tobago have a three-day score of 650 with Puerto Rico on 658 and Dominican Republic on 664. The homesters owe their strong position to a sparkling third round 66 by Tobago-born Carlos “Sexy” Baynes yesterday, and are in sight of the coveted cup. Baynes’ 66, best of the tournament to date, was followed by Dion Gonsalves who had a round of par 72, while Corey Hamel-Smith who had an opening day 67 again struggled yesterday, posting a six-over par 78 which did not count to the team’s score. Shane Costelloe is still to get to terms with the Plantations course, and was eight-over par 80 yesterday. The Puerto Ricans, starting the day five strokes back of Trinidad and Tobago, saw their attempt to close the gap fritter away after Erick Morales’ par 72, as Rob Slavonia shot a two over-par 74 and Raul Rivera one over 73, with Max Alverio getting around in 78.

Dominican Republic trail the leaders by 14 strokes and have no real chance of lifting the prized cup. Barbados and Jamaica are tied in fourth on 667 with OECS next on 672.  USVI 674, Bahamas 682, Cayman Islands 700 and Turks and Caicos Islands 765 make up the rest of the field. The Higgs and Higgs category for super seniors (60-years and over), saw Trinidad and Tobago drop two strokes and now trail Puerto Rico by three, entering today’s final round. Puerto Rico matched their second round 69 with a similar third round score in the best ball format for a total of 209, while the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Teddy Grell and Ashraph Ali matched their second round 71 to tally 212. Cayman Islands who were tied for second with Trinidad and Tobago on 141, had a three over-par 75 yesterday to slip seven strokes off  the lead with 216. Bahamas are next on 220 with Jamaica on 222 followed by joint sixth OECS and Barbados 226 while Turks and Caicos Islands are next on 231 and USVI last with 236. Cayman  Islands hold a one-stroke lead over Puerto Rico in the race for the Francis and Steele-Perkins Cup following a tremendous third round four under par 68 yesterday for a total of 212.

The Puerto Ricans finished on two under par 70 to tally 213, while Dominican Republic and Barbados are joint third on 217. Trinidad and Tobago are 11 strokes behind the leaders, jointly on 223 with Turks and Caicos Islands. Puerto Rico are running away with the Ramon Baez Trophy for players aged 35 to 50 years old. The Puerto Ricans have a 15 strokes lead on 215 strokes to second placed Jamaica on 230. Dominican Republic and USVI are joint third on 234 with Bahamas next on 236 and Trinidad and Tobago (Arjoon Samlal and Barry Ferdinand) on 238. The Trinidad and Tobago women moved into joint third with Puerto Rico on 233 strokes, after the Torry sisters Michelle and Diana shot three over par 75 each, but trail leaders Bahamas (219) by 14 strokes. Barbados are second on 231.