T&T's Chris Richards Snr finished off a brilliant week when he shot 69 on the final round of play for a four-day total of 280 at eight-under-par to win the 2019 T&T Golf Open at St Andrew's Golf Course, Moka, Maraval on Sunday.
Tied for second were Ben Martin (69 289 total) and last year's winner Dustin Risden (74 289 total) all three get an invitation to play in the Jamaica Classic which is a Latinoamerican Tour event which will take place in early May. Talin Rajendranath who is now playing on the Mackenzie tour in Canada finished fourth with Edgardo Arrazola Jnr in 5th on 293.
The T&T Amateur Champion for 2019 is overnight leader Wanjoo Lee who shot a 1 under par total of 70, 287). Wanjoo wins an invitation and entry into the Jamaican Classic and also an automatic pick onto T&T's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship team.
In second place was the 2018 Champion Gabriel Vananoste who had (72, 291 total), Jonathan Millen finished in third (73 298total). Liam Bryden finished in fourth with (74,299 total). Tobago's Sol Joanni was in fifth with (74,303 total), with Chris Richards Jnr in sixth with (75,309 total)
In the first flight Ryan Gomez shot 80 for a 319 total to overhaul the overnight leader Junior Charles who had a disappointing 89 for a total of 322. In third place was Rodney Phillip who also had a disappointing last round of 90 for a total of 328. In fourth place, winning a prize after many years of trying was Canadian Brian Muir on 331. Thomas Bannon lost on a countback so finished fifth also on 331.
In the second flight two of our national junior team members tied for first place Dravid Bhim and Jean-Marc Chevrotierre with a total score of 322, tied after 3 rounds they both shot 78 today. So they then had to play a “sudden death” playoff and this took place on the first hole with Dravid winning with a par 4 as Jean-Marc missed a three-3 foot putt to tie. Nandlal Ramlakhan finished a distant 3rd with a score of 334, 2 strokes further behind in 4th place were Learie Flores on 336.
The Seniors division ended up in a very close finish with Richard Camacho (81,304total) staving off a fast-finishing Dave Rajkumar (74, 305 total). Krishna Narine finished a distant third on 322.
In the Super Seniors (over 60) the winner was Tyrone Leong with a total score of 328, Kissoon Gannes finished 2nd on 332 with John Hale in third on 333. But the big story was Fabian Lee Foon who disqualified himself when he realized that he had inadvertently put down a 3 on a hole when he really had a 4. This is sportsmanship and integrity of the highest order.
Trinidad and Tobago romped away from Barbados with the Presidents Cup with Wanjoo Lee and Gabriel Vananoste having a 588 total to Barbados Xzavier Wiggins and Julian Jordan total of 332.
The players and the Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association would like to thank all the sponsors who include NLCB, Chrystal Waters, C&H Construction, Shell, Angostura, Hanover Construction, Mootilal Rambit & Sons Ltd, TN Ramnath and Co Ltd, Caribel and MLGCC.