Local golfers in good form ahead of Guyana Open Cup
By Clifton Ross
Ahead of this weekend’s start to the Guyana Open Golf Cup, local pros will be keen on maintaining their tremendous form which many of them gained since 2018 began.
More than 30 tournaments were staged by the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) during 2018 with a number of top-ranked local golfers managing to hit solid playing form with every passing tourney. With roughly 100 participants from Canada, Colombia, the Caribbean, French Guiana, Suriname, and the United States set to be a part of the biggest Cup ever, the Guyanese contingent will need to continue their form in order to defend their turf against the foreigners.
One of the most notable tournaments was the Suriname International Golf Open, which was held in Paramaribo on October 6 and 7. The two-day 36-hole tournament, which was ideal preparation for the Guyanese ahead of their own
Joaan Deo will be on a quest to win the Ladies Open title
grand event, was conducted under the Stableford system, in which the number of eagles, birdies, pars, single bogeys and double bogeys matter more than the gross score.
In the end, Guyana again maintained their tag as a golf-strong nation with a number of players, most notably the newly-crowned Ladies Champion, Dr Joaan Deo, excelling. As one of the frontrunners for the title this weekend, the veteran golfer wrestled the title from the then Suriname champ as she flexed her skills outside of Guyana to end with 82/14. Capturing the title ensured that the local player was in the best form as she prepares to reclaim her title this weekend from the reigning champ Christine Sukhram.
Veteran ladies golfer Shanella Webster is another threat given her experience over the years and the fact that she brought second behind Deo in the Suriname Open. The Guyana contingent of some 20 golfers all performed well in their respective flights, returning home with not only spoils but tons of confidence heading into the golf spectacle this weekend.
Patrick Prashad, LGC President Aleem Hussain, reigning Guyana Open eight-time champ Avinash Persaud and Alfred Mentore were among those who flourished in the A flight of the Suriname Open. In the B Flight, Bridgelall Harry, Lakram Ramsundar, Paton George, Patanjalee Persaud, Jerome Khan, Deanand Bissessar and Kalyan Tiwari gained some much-needed overseas playing time
Some of the members of the successful Guyanese contingent that toured Suriname last month: Dr Philbert London, Paton George, Troy Cadogan, Dr Joaan Deo, Brian Hackett, Videsh Persaud, Shanella Webster, Parmanand Persaud, Patrick Prashad, and Lakram Ramsundar
and landed spots in the top five while the likes of Troy Cadogan, Dr Philbert London and others starred in the C flight, thus keeping the senior bevy of golfers well-oiled in wake of this weekend.
This weekend’s female category will see the addition of former 11-time Guyana female champion, Sukhram, battling against the likes of Deo and Webster in addition to members of the Surinamese female contingent.
The males will also have some heated encounters, with Persaud having to ward off foreigners as well as local golfers the calibre of Hussain, Richard Haniff, Mike Mangal, Munaf Arjune, Mohanlall Dinanauth and Lakram Ramsundar among others.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Open will be conducted under the medal-play system where every stroke counts. All golfers will be keen on bettering their exploits in Suriname. The tournament tees off a little after 05:00h Saturday morning.
