Johnson captures Rockley

Top Barbados golfer James Johnson made it a winning appearance in his first Rockley Open when he won the Rockley Cup by three shots from defending champion Judd Cozier last weekend.
The two were pegged together after opening with 73 on Saturday but Johnson picked up crucial birdies early in the second round and at one stage held a five-shot advantage. 
Overnight leader Richard Zaar finished a further two shots behind in third place.
The Rockley ladies champion for 2011 is the experienced Helen Foster, who carded a gross 163 over the two days, six shots in front of Debbie Fung and eight shots ahead of Julia Stephenson.
Johnson’s 68 on the second day was the best round of the competition although he admitted he found the tight parkland par-70 course a difficult challenge. Defending champion Cozier was aiming to add a fifth successive title and did well to recover from a disastrous triple bogey at the first hole which was effectively the difference between the two players over the two rounds.  
Mark Maguire had a fine tournament, winning the best net prizes on both days and the best gross overall in the top flight 15-24 section. 
Other good performers included visitors Ian MacInnis [first net among the men] and Christine Nash, who was first net among the ladies, just one shot ahead of Jo MacInnis and Pamela Hiles. 
Michael Hutchinson edged out Collis Lynch for first net on the low section, just one shot better than Ollie Newman. But perhaps the biggest cheer of the evening went to eight-year-old Xavier Wiggins who won the juniors’ trophy with an impressive 144.
The event, which had a full entry of 104 players, was superbly organized by the Rockley committee and generously sponsored by long-term sponsors United Insurance, Diamonds International and Digicel. (PR)