James Johnson is in sight of his 11th national golf title and seeking to set a new record in the annual United Insurance Barbados Open which enters its final day today at the Country Club at Sandy lane.
The ten-time Barbados champion slammed all contenders again yesterday as he shot a three-under-par 69 on the second day of the three-day tournament at the world famous Country Club par 72 course.
One of the Caribbean’s most consistent players, Johnson leads the men’s championship division by 13 strokes with a 36-hole gross of 139 (five under par), after a first day score of 70. He will be going for the championship over the final 18 holes today.
“The final day is very critical. My game plan is to stay ahead and be aggressive and focussed. I am also hoping that I can get into a position to set a new record for championship play in Barbados,” said Johnson.
The Barbados captain, who shot 5 strokes on the front nine and 34 on the back in a bogeyless round yesterday, hopes to erase the 11-under-par record set in the Open tournament at Royal Westmoreland by Irishman David Houlahan back in 2004.
Chasing the leader in the 29th United Insurance Barbados Open are Barbados player Marcus Clarke and Trinidadian Dave Rajkumar, both joint second on a two-day gross 152. They shot improved second day scores of 72 and 74 but were still 13 strokes behind.
Barbados players Judd Cozier and Julian Jordan were joint third, with a gross 154 after 36 holes.
Among the women, 11-year-old Mavi Vergos, a student of the Codrington High school, fell off the pace as a resurgent Mufin Stollmeyer shot an even par 72 to take the lead with a two-day gross 156.
Vergos posted 82 for a 36-hole gross 165, to occupy second position while Julia Stephenson remained third on 178.
Spencer Smith, a 14 year-old student of The St Michael School, maintained his lead in the men’s first flight with an improved second day 68. In the division, featuring 42 players with ten to 21 handicaps, Smith (13 handicap) shot 82 on the first day and followed with 78 yesterday for a gross 160, eight shots clear of his nearest rivals, Livy Webster, Trevor Tasker and Shurland Forde, all on 168.
The highly competitive senior men’s category saw a new leader after 36 holes as Michael Haynes moved three shots ahead of veteran Barbados players Ricky Skeete and Robert Piggott who are on 153.
Haynes, who shot 76 on Friday to share the lead with Skeete, shot 74 yesterday while Skeete registered 77. Piggott also shot 74 yesterday while cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers remained in contention with a fighting 76.
Former Barbados cricketer Stephen Farmer also surrendered his lead in the super seniors (over age 60), as Trinidadian Monty Chapman posted 74 to move two strokes ahead with an 18-hole gross of 149.
Farmer shot 77, to add to his first day 74, while Bill Weir moved into third position with 154 and Cally Boyea fourth on 157.
More than 100 players from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, St Kitts and Nevis and the United States are contesting the three-day championships. (PR)