The Breitling Invitational Golf Classic played this past weekend at the famed Lucaya Golf-Course saw 91 players compete for over $40,000 in beautiful crystal prizes and Breitling watches and golf bags as the event returned to Grand Bahama.
Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Neko C. Grant, welcomed participants and challenged organizers to continue the drive to have the island recapture its status as the golfing capital of The Bahamas.
Ambrose Gouthro, Tournament Director of the Breitling Invitational Golf Classic stated that the players enjoyed great golfing conditions and challenging competition.
The indication from the players was that all were excited about the new format for the Breitling this year and would play next year and encourage their friends to participate.
The Breitling's new format of five flights of competition divided into handicap groups of 0-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13-18, and 19-24, with participants playing gross within the flights, saw local golfers win or tie for first in each division.
In the First and Second Flights, Paul Bowe (149) and Zack Smith (158) took top honours respectively, and in Flights three and four, Larry deGregory (167) tied winner Ron Schroder, and Kyle King (169) tied winner William Sutherlin, both flights being decided by a score card play-off. Caleb Hepburn won the Fifth Flight with a 192.
The team competition for the Breitling watches ended in a tie with team scores of 142. The tie was broken by a score card play-off according to the rules of the tournament and the team of Richard Gibson Jr., Raymond "R.H." Culmer, Darryl Silvera and Peter Collins finished first. The second place team of Paul Bowe, Phil Howland, Michael McDaniel and Howard Gelsomino received Breitling golf bags.
In the special events, on Day 1, Richard Roberts on Hole No. 2, and Paul Bowe on Hole No. 13, were closest to the pin.
The Longest Drive Award was captured by Jim Hall on the 9th Hole. On Day 2 Garland Smart was closest to the pin on Hole No. 2.
The event, which promised to place focus on amateur golfers being treated like professionals, lived up to its billing and "Also began the road back for premium golf events on Grand Bahama Island as participants felt as if they were involved in a national championship event," said Gouthro.
The Organizing Comm-ittee was also able to make donation to three charities from proceeds of the Classic, namely, the Bahamas Golf Association Junior Division, the Scholarship Committee of the National Workers' Cooperative Credit Union, and the Northern Bahamas Council for the Disabled.
"The weather co-operated and conditions were perfect for the 36-hole golf competition played at the Lucayan Golf and Country Club on Grand Bahama Island that produced the following results:
"The Tournament Committee wishes to thank Breitling for sponsoring the event along with co-sponsors The Grand Bahama Yacht Club, The Isle of Capri Casino at Our Lucaya, Bahamian Brewery, brewers of the new "Sands" beer, John Bull Ltd. and Mercantile Trading Ltd. Inc.
"The Tournament provided an activity to attract golfers from abroad to come to Grand Bahama Island and enjoy not only the golf, but the other attractions on the Island," said Gouthro.
RESULTS:
First Flight Second Flight
1.Paul Bowe 149 1.Zack Smith 158
2.Alex Gibson 156 2.Theron Hepburn 169
3.Chris Harris 157 3.Tsegai Berhane 170
4.Richard Gibson 158 3.Harcourt Poitier 170
5.Alan Vickers 160 5.Richard Roberts 171
6.Peter McIntosh 163 6.Phil Howland 175
6.Oswald Moore 163 7.William Shearin 177
6.Bill Casale 163 7.Edward Whan 177
7.Kendal Munro 177 7.Carvel Moxey 177
Third Flight Fourth Flight
1.Ron Schroder 167 1.William Sutherlin 169
1.Larry deGregory 167 1.Kyle King 169
3.Brock Andrews 168 3.Jim Carlton 176
4.Steve Singh 172 4.John Mulcahy 183
5.Cecil Lewis 173 5.Sammy Gardiner 184
5.Joe Connors 173 6.William Alheim 186
5.Carlton Harris 173 6.Darryl Silvera 186
6.David Johnson 186
9.Adrian Burbage 187
Fifth Flight
1.Caleb Hepburn 192
2.David Branson 196
3.Thomas Gallagher 201
4.Greg Farrington 202
5.Peter Collins 204
6.Rob Elsey 205
7.David White 207 |
