Three-time national Open champion Ben Martin put on an outstanding display as he dominated the three-day 2026 Ste Madeleine Golf Open in Ste Madeleine on Friday (Sepetmber 18), Saturday (September 19), and Sunday (Sepetmber 20).
The 36-year-old, 2022 Ste Madeleine Professional champion, had a six-shot advantage over Chris Richards Snr, who followed his opening 67 with a 66 to reach 133.
However, Martin, who followed up his 65 on Friday with 62 on Saturday, produced 65 on the final day’s play to gross 192, for a ten-shot dominance to win the Professional category.
Richards Snr, who was ten shots adrift, battled back, but his 69 was not good enough to derail Martin, who stayed focused while playing an outstanding round on the final day. Richards Sr ended with a gross of 202.
Talin Rajendranath was third after posting scores of 70, 76, and 78 for a gross of 224 in a very competitive five-man field, which pushed each other on all three days of play. Chris McMillan registered 81, 74, and 74 for 229, while Ricky Campbell’s 82, 82, and 80 rounded off the scores.
The professional and championship flights played three days, while the other flights played on Saturday and Sunday. There was a brief rain delay that interrupted proceedings on Saturday, but play resumed without further interruptions.
Collier lifts Championship honours
Ethan Collier, 16, who shot 72 on day one, began the day two shots behind overnight leader Marcus Ling, but the national junior responded with a composed 69, highlighted by a back nine of 33, to reach a two-day gross total of 141.
On the final day, he shot 71 for a total of 212, five shots better than Liam Bryden, the 2023 champion, who shot 70, using all his experience to end on 217, after posting 73 and 74 on the first two days of play.
Ayden Ali and Dravid Bhim closed out the top four places with final day scores of 73 and 75, respectively, from the eight-player field in the Championship flight division.
Rampersad wins
First Flight
In the First Flight, Sheriss Rampersad emerged as the winner of the First Flight when he followed up his rounds of 73 and 72 on days one and two with a gross of 45 and registered a 74 on day three to secure the win with a total gross of 219 while holding off a talented field of 11 challengers.
Shazaad Ali, who closed day two in second position on 151 (77 and 74), fell off the pace with 85, which allowed Kevesh Ramnath, who was third on 153, going into the final day’s play, to fight back and secure second place with a score of 78 to end on a gross 213. Rampersad also leads the net competition following rounds of 66, 65, and 67.
Laynes lifts the Ladies title
The depth of junior talent has been one of the notable features of this year’s tournament.
Hailey Layne emerged as the Ladies’ winner when she followed up an opening round 80 on Saturday with a repeat performance yesterday to hold off Emile Ramsahai for second place. Ramsahai followed up her 83 on day one with an 82, while Gail Rajack fell from second to third with a score of 89. She still managed to register the best nett overall of 138 from the field of ten competitors.
Fellow junior Tonya Lazare, who opened with an 88 and a nett of 69, shot a round of 90 on day two.
In the Second Flight, junior Aba Bally-Roopchand finished first after an impressive 77, after a 78 the day before, for a gross of 155, five strokes clear of Kumar Boodram, who also followed up his day one score of 84 with a 76 for a gross of 160, and Eddison Sagram secured third place from among a field of 15 players, with scores of 86 and 79, with a gross of 165.
Meanwhile, Junior Evan Samir Ali also maintained his composure on the final day to secure top honours in the Third Flight, with an 81, which was three strokes better than the 84 he recorded the day before. He ended with a gross of 165. Close on his heels was Damion Sarwan, who, after shooting an 81 in the first round, felt off badly with a round of 86 for a gross of 167. Jeruel Placide recorded an 85 and 89 for a gross of 174 and had to settle for third place from the 22 players that were searching for honours in the category.
