DON Bispham is the new champion of the RBC Golf Classic.
Coming into the final day on Sunday at the Barbados Golf Club with a two-stroke lead over Canadian Stephen Layne, Bispham held his nerve to win his first RBC tournament.
Scores of 72 and 77 over two days gave Bispham a gross total of 149 in a competition where almost everyone struggled with their putter on the fast greens.
“I just played my natural game and let the others make the mistakes, and when they did, I just capitalized and kept my head down,” said Bispham.
Bispham, who is a caddie at the Sandy Lane Golf Club and a taxi driver at the Bridgetown Port, said the turning point in his performance was his eagle putt on one of the par five holes, which kick-started his march to the title on day one.
Level mind
“I came into day two with a level mind and I didn’t try anything out of the way because I was in front. I just focused on making par and having a solid game all the way around the course.”
Second place went to Scott Stollmeyer who was one stroke behind 2011 champion Steven Layne, coming into day two.
He had solid starts of birdie and par on the two opening holes on each day of the competition, and ended with a total of 151, shooting 75 on day one and a gross score of 76 on day two.
“Today was really just some issues on the greens. I hit the ball well all weekend long but the putting made the difference,” said Stollmeyer.
Layne would be kicking himself after some costly mistakes. One such error was finding the water hazard on the ninth hole and dropping a shot after a solid drive off the tee.
Biggest challenge
“Getting accustomed to the greens was the biggest challenge. I guess I needed a little more time on the course. Back in Canada the greens are a lot slower,” said Layne.
His total over 36 holes was gross 154, 74 on the first day and 80 on day two.
The net prize in the championship flight went to BGA president Hadley Byer, who finished with a score of 143.
In the women’s championship flight, Rae “Muffin” Stollmeyer sealed the title after carding a two-day gross score of 161, shooting 82 on day one and a 79 on day two.
The standout junior was 12-year-old Mavi Vergos, who won the first place net prize among the championship women, finishing with 148.
In the other categories; no one could match Collis Lynch in the men’s first flight, his net score of 168 was two better than second-placed Chris Cobley with 170. Horace Cobham won the net prize in that section with a score of 147.
Ricky Skeete collected the top prize in the senior men with 152 gross, while Michael Haynes ended with net 148.
The Super Senior section was won by Bill Weir with 145 gross, while Naz Hosein grabbed the net prize with 132.
Darryl Cardoza topped the Men’s Stableford competition with 66 points, second was Hank Lucas with 64 points.
The women’s stableford was won by Zerina Belgrave, as she amassed 80 points over the two days. (PR)
