2022 Suriname Open golf tournament: George satisfied with team’s performance

-focus now on Guyana Open

By Timothy Jaikarran

A team from the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) recently participated in the 2022 Suriname Open golf tournament in Paramaribo. The Guyanese contingent of more than 30 players acquitted themselves well, and while everyone was not able to medal, they each showed great fight and persistence as they game the Surinamese team excellent competition.
LGC Vice President Paton George has said he is proud of the team and their results, as it bodes well for the Guyana Open golf tournament, which is scheduled for October 29-30, 2022.

The beautiful Paramaribo Golf Course had its fair share of tests, and was a sight to behold as all 90 registered golfers put their skills to the test. Thus, when the results were announced, one could tell that everything was played fairly and evenly.
The final day saw the golfers coming out from as early as 6:30am as they looked to finish their quota of 18 holes. However, the rains came in the afternoon session and the tone was set for the rest of the day. With the course soaked, the players had to be careful when driving, as the ball would stick in the course, as against bouncing a few extra yards when the course is dry.
The condition provided some advantage in regard to chipping and putting, as even if a golfer’s shot had too much power behind it, the wet condition would slow the ball down, thereby improving the odds for that golfer.

Nevertheless, the tournament was played with an admirable spirit of camaraderie, and the Guyanese players thoroughly enjoyed themselves during play, and supported each other whether they won or loss.
The 2-day competition saw Shanella London dominating the female category, while Avinda Kishore walked away with accolades for the longest drive and Men’s Overall Gross. Brian Hackett was also the winner of Class B, while Patanjilee Persaud came in second. Carlos Adams took third in Class C, and Eureka Giddings came in third in Class E, to round out the awards for Guyana.

Speaking with this publication, LGC Vice President Paton George was asked to comment on the team’s performance, and he said, “As I spoke to you before, the performance of the team was spectacular. We had the two top golfers in Guyana, who won the 2021 Guyana Open, Shanella London and Avinda Kishore. They both won the highest prizes at the Suriname Open this year. So, it wasn’t bragging, but it was just what was expected, based on their skill level, as they are highly skilled players.”
Regarding the performance of the Surinamese players, George rated it as very good. He said he believes that the Suriname team had won more prizes than the Guyanese contingent overall, but he explained that if the tournament were to be judged country by country, Guyana would definitely have the edge. Nevertheless, he said, the Surinamese golfers represented their country really well.

Comparing the Paramaribo Golf Course with the Lusignan Golf Course, George has said, “It plays a little bit different from Lusignan, but both courses are in top condition. Suriname Golf Club is in good condition, as I have seen it, and that is credit to their grounds staff, as they had a bad period due to rain. They were able to get the course in good shape really fast. they had a little bit of help due to the rains on Sunday to slow the greens down a bit; but, overall, it was in perfect condition.”
With the Suriname Open done and dusted, George has said LGC members would now turn their focus to the Guyana Open, set for October 29-30. He clarified that the Suriname Open was used as a warm-up for the Guyana Open, and a lot of Surinamese are expected to participate in the Guyana Open.
He is also optimistic that the Suriname side would bring their ‘A’ game and make the Guyana Open a big competition. However, whatever happens, he is predicting that the big players out of Guyana, such as Avinda Kishore, Avinash Kishore and Rackesh Harry, are going to have to contend with some serious competition.