Hoerman Cup remains at Plantations

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s golfers attained one of their primary sports objectives yesterday clinging tenaciously to their overnight advantage to win the Hoerman Cup at the Plantations Beach and Golf Resort in Lowlands, Tobago. It was a fitting end to one of the most keenly contested Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships ever as not one of the ten countries participating could lay claim to total dominance in the four-day affair. Apart from capturing the coveted Hoerman Cup, TT placed second in the Higgs and Higgs super seniors category; were third in the George Teale Trophy contest for women; finished fourth in the new Ramon Baez Trophy category; and came in seventh in the Francis and Steele-Perkins competition. The Hoerman Cup battle, in which the region’s premier golfers are engaged took the spotlight on the final day yesterday with TT holding a three-shot lead on the chasing Puerto Rican pack. However Shane Costelloe finally came good shooting a three under par 69. He was was well- supported by leading local golfer Carlos “Sexy” Baynes, even par 72; and a seven over 79 by young Dion Gonsalves.

TT emerged winners with an aggregate of 870 followed by Puerto Rico (875); Dominican Republic (890) and Barbados (895). Others in tow were The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) 896; US Virgin Islands (901), Jamaica (903); Bahamas (909); Cayman Islands (223) and Turks and Caicos Islands (1,027). Baynes, who grew up in nearby Bethel had the distinction of emerging with the lowest aggregate of the tournament, 284 highlighted with a fabulous six under in the third round on Friday. Also making a strong challenge for overall individual honours was John Streibich of the US Virgin Islands who trailed Baynes by one stroke and was the only golfer to register par or below par for the entire four days. Among the women, bidding for the George Teale Trophy, Bahamas, led by the steady Jameica Duncombe capitalised on their huge 12-stroke lead into the final day and romped home by 11 shots ahead of defending champions Puerto Rico.

In third were Trinidad and Tobago’s Torry sisters, Michelle and Diana who had a five over yesterday to finish with a four-day total of 310. Next were Barbados (311), Cayman Islands (315), Jamaica (324), US Virgin Islands (334), Turks and Caicos Islands (336). In the Higgs and Higgs contest, TT representatives Teddy Grell and Asraph Ali continued their outstanding form shooting one under yesterday but could not overhaul the Puerto Ricans who successfully defended their super seniors title. They finished with 280 strokes, three better than TT with Cayman Islands (291) third and Bahamas (292) next. Jamaica (300) were fifth, followed by OECS (302), Barbados (303), Turks and Caicos (308) and US Virgin Islands (313). The Cayman Islands took the Francis Steele-Perkins Trophy with a four-day aggregate of 284 followed by Puerto Rico (287) and Barbados (288).

Third were the Dominican Republic (293), with Bahamas (298) next; followed by Turks and Caicos (300) and Trinidad and Tobago pair of Louis De Meillac and Raymond Roberts on 302. In the Ramon Baez Trophy, Puerto Rico (292) drew first blood in the new category, convincing  13-stroke winners over Dominican Republic (305) and third placed Jamaica (306). Next were Trinidad and Tobago’s Barry Ferdinand and Arjoon Samlal who completed the tournament with a 312; ahead of OECS (313); US Virgin Islands (314), Bahamas (315); Barbados (317) and Cayman Islands (319). The Puerto Ricans also retained the Arthur Zaidie Trophy for overall excellence totalling 123.25 points, 20 better than hosts TT.