Barbados Today

Champions in various divisions of the 2015 Massy United Insurance Barbados Open were forced to fight off intermittent showers, testing conditions and determined opponents before picking up their rewards.

This was acknowledged during the awards ceremony at Royal Westmoreland on Sunday night where competition in the three-day tournament concluded and several attractive prizes were handed out.

While players in the men’s championship played all 54-holes at Royal Westmoreland, other divisions were played at the Barbados Golf Club on Friday and at the Apes Hill Club on Saturday, before all players then came together to contest the final 18 holes at Westmoreland.

Intermittent showers on the final day on Sunday made competition more intriguing while the champions separated themselves from the challengers.

During the awards ceremony, both president of the Barbados Golf Association, Cally Boyea, and Barbados business manager for sponsors Massy United Insurance, Sharron Alleyne-Elcock, praised the players for outstanding performances and their contribution to three days of exciting golf in the major tournament.

Alleyne-Elcock said her company was happy to be associated with the BGA and other partners in staging the annual Barbados Open which was supported every year by players from the Caribbean and further afield.

“Our partnership with the BGA spans more than 25 years and not only profiles the sport of golf but has also had a positive impact on the sporting community. We are pleased with the high level of participation which the Massy United Insurance Barbados Open has attracted over the years,” she said.

The BGA President thanked the sponsors for their support and said that while several juniors were emerging to challenge the veterans, the sport of golf was also continuing to attract a range of multi-talented sportsmen.

More than 100 players from the Caribbean, England and North America took part in the 2015 Barbados Open and among them were cricketers Jason Holder and Phil Simmons, former Barbados tennis players Michael Date and Roger Edghill, former cyclist Walter Redman and former badminton champion Argyle Maynard.

At the end of 54 holes, veteran Barbados player Carlsen Leacock emerged winner of the men’s championship with a gross 226, which was six strokes ahead of Roger Bostic (232). Jamaica-born Leiza Munn-Blakeley, who represented Barbados earlier this year, won the women’s title with a gross 245.

Other winners were:

Women’s 1st Flight –– Allyssa Inniss-Gitens (gross 269)/ Zerina Belgrave (net 234)

Mens 1st Flight –– Malcolm Hunte (gross 268); –– CJ Clark (net 228)

Men’s 2nd Flight/ Stableford –– (1) Scot Kiah (109 points); (2) Richard Boddy (100 points).

Senior Men –– Ivan Codrington (gross 233)

Super Seniors –– Bill Weir (gross 227); / Richie Alleyne
(net 214).

Junior champion and men’s championship net-winner –– Xzavier Wiggins (net 220). (BB)