A record field of 156 golfers from eight countries are registered to take part in the 105th Annual ANSA McAL T&T Open, which will be held at the St Andrew's Golf Club in Moka from March 15-18. This was revealed during a press conference at the Club yesterday. The 72-hole tournament will comprise of five categories, including the Championship, First Flight, Second Flight, Seniors and Super Seniors. Hailing from England, Canada, USA, Barbados, St Kitts, Curacao and St Lucia, the international entrants will be up against a strong local contingent featuring Dave Rajkumar, Andrei Collins, Wayne Baptiste, Alderray Downes, Shane Costelloe, Patrick Boocock and Deryck Gonsalves. Former West Indies captain Brian Lara will also be among the competing players.
Leading the Bajan squad will be defending champion James Johnson, who will be joined by countrymen Judd Cozier and Orville Alleyne. Fellow Bajan Roger Branch will be defending his First Flight title, while locals Richard Camacho (Seniors) and Tyrone Leong (Super Seniors) will do the same in their respective categories. The ANSA McAL Group of Companies, which has contributed $150,000 to this year's event, will serve as the chief sponsor for the third time as part of a three-year agreement. Having begun in 1907, the T&T Open is the third oldest golfing tournament in the western hemisphere after the US Open and Argentine Open.