James Johnson won the United Insurance Barbados Open Golf Championships for the fifth consecutive time on Sunday.
In relatively heavy conditions at Royal Westmoreland, caused by overnight and intermittent showers, Johnson cruised to another victory in the island’s biggest tournament as he shot a final day 72.
That gave him a gross 211 over 54 holes of competition and his tenth victory in the tournament.
He finished ten strokes ahead of second-placed fellow Barbados player Carlsen Leacock, who also shot 72 yesterday. Leacock grossed 221 over the three days, while Trinidadian Ansari Muhajiri was third with 225.
Twenty-four-year-old Kimesha Anthony of Antigua, who like Johnson led from the opening day, took the women’s title for the third time in four years. She posted 78 and finished with a 54-hole gross of 228.
Defending champion and top Barbadian junior Serena Smith was second as she shot 75 and a cumulative gross of 234. Four strokes back was Lynn DeCambra McLeod (238).
The senior men’s competition, contested by players over 50 years, saw a keen battle all the way to the final hole where leader Michael Haynes overshot the greens and surrendered the championship.
His five strokes on the 18th allowed veteran Ricky Skeete, who shot 73 and was threatening all day, to take the title with a 54-hole gross 229. Haynes, who shot 77 yesterday, also finished with 229 but Skeete won on the countback system.
Third was former Barbados and Caribbean champion Robert Piggott with 232.
In the men’s first flight competition, featuring players with 10-20 handicaps, Royal Westmoreland staffer Chris Pitt emerged the winner, beating former Trinidad football captain Russell Latapy by two strokes.
Pitt (261) posted 86 yesterday as Latapy shot 84 and finished with 263 over the three days. Third was Neville Brewster of Barbados on 266.
Roger Beale Sr maintained his early grip on the Super Seniors, posting 80 for a cumulative gross of 230. Second was Asraph Ali of Trinidad (242) while Grantley Cumberbatch placed third with 260.
Owing to torrential rains on Saturday, second-round play was also completed early on the final day before the leaders in the women’s division and the men’s first flight were able to make a run for the titles.
More than 100 regional and international players took part in the 28th edition of the United Open Golf Championships which are organized by the Barbados Golf Association. (PR)