Although it was not as straightforward as taking ice cream from someone with a sweet tooth, Maxim Mangra emerged on top of a large field of golfers to take the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Open tournament on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club.
Popularly known as “Danny”, Mangra finished with a net of 65, as did Andre Cummings and Jeetendra Dhanpat, but was adjudged winner after a count-back. The champion played off a handicap of 15, and took 80 strokes to complete the course ahead of Dhanpat, who had the best gross of the day, 73. Dhanpat played off a handicap of 8, and took the overall second spot; while Cummings, with a handicap of 14 and a gross of 79, finished third.
Rescheduled from April earlier this year, the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Open attracted 44 registrants, with 42 eventually teeing-off. This was comfortably the best turnout of the year, as players looked to fine tune their preparations for the 2021 edition of the Guyana Open.
Joann Deo (left) receiving her prize for the Longest Drive on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club. Sharon Khan of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is giving her the prize
In sunny conditions, with a persistent light breeze, the players enjoyed the course and got great value for their strokes, thanks to the hardworking team of curators headed by Mike Guyandin, who is also an excellent golfer. The experienced golfer put down the tools and picked up the clubs to add to the competitiveness on the course. Playing off a handicap of 12, businessman Guyandin finished with a net score of 68 (gross 80), and copped a prize for having the Best Net in the Front Nine, 29.
Troy Cadogan also had a welcome return to the course, and marked the occasion by picking up the prize for the Best Net in the Back Nine, 31. Cadogan played with a handicap of 22, and took 97 strokes to finish the course.
Maxim Mangra swinging his way to the top at Lusignan on Saturday
The prize for Longest Drive went to one of three female starters, Joann Deo, who finished with a net of 69 playing with a handicap of 13; while the Nearest to the Pin trophy went to Roy Dhori.
Also in action were Guyana Open champion Avinash Persaud, Parmanand ‘Max’ Persaud, Tom Watkins, experienced golfer William Walker, Club Captain Patrick Prashad, Guillermo Escarraga, and LGC executives Patanjali Persaud and Paton George.
George, Treasurer of Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) and Director of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, in a presentation at the trophy ceremony after the action on the greens, said his company is honoured to be sponsoring a tournament of this magnitude, and is looking forward to a long-term relationship with the club. George then provided three delicious flavours of ice cream to everyone present.
Champion Maxim Mangra (left) collecting the champion’s trophy from Paton George of W&T George Enterprise
Also addressing the membership was LGC President Persaud, who thanked W&T George Group Enterprise for branding the tournament, and spoke of the competitive spirit shown in golfers ahead of the highly anticipated Guyana Open.
Persaud also made special mention of the large turn-out, the extremely good condition of the course, and the immediate plans in terms of tournaments for the club.
The next tournament, Saturday’s Trophy Stall Open, would be followed by the Crown Mining Supplies Open, then the three-day Guyana Open, set for October 29, 30 and 31.
BRUSTERS’ WINNERS: Golfers and representatives of the sponsor at the end of the tournament. From left to right are Selwin George, Sharon Khan, Maxim Mangra, Troy Cadogan, Joann Deo, Andre Cummings, Jeetendra Dhanpat, Roy Dhori, Mike Guyadin, Paton George and Patanjali Persaud.
