Guyanese golfers score big at Suriname Open

Guyanese golfers had an impressive outing in neighbouring Suriname at the weekend at the Suriname Republic Bank Open Invitational Golf Tournament.

Among the victors from Guyana were 2015 Digicel Guyana Open champion Shanella Webster and rookie Deanand ‘Deno’ Bissessar, who was on his inaugural trip to the event. While Veteran female golfer Christine Sukhram finished second in one of the many categories.

Webster took the Ladies’ first or ‘A’ Flight by storm, in the just concluded event which was held at the Golf club Paramaribo Course, Paramaribo.
She created history by becoming the first Guyanese lady to win the A Flight. Webster sealed the deal after several attempts which saw her finishing third in 2015 in the Ladies ‘B’ Flight when she produced a fantastic play to come up to third from eighth position on the first day, nine points behind the winner of that Flight, Hanka Wolterstorff.
With smiles, Shanella (h/cap 17, points 69,) elatedly explained that she kept her cool and sought to play every hole on its own merit, undisturbed by the good or poor play of the competitors in the field.
Meanwhile, past Guyana Open lady champion for some eight consecutive years, veteran, Sukhram (h/cap 9, points 66), added to the Guyanese performance by coming second in the A Flight. Christine also won the Best Gross in the female category.
There were more to come from the Guyanese contingent as Bissessar won in his field. The lone Guyanese in the ‘C’ Flight, Bissessar (h/cap 26, points 65) brought first in that Flight. Meanwhile, Kalyan Tiwari and Christine Sukhram recorded the Longest Drive on day one in the male and female categories respectively, while Alfred Mentore recorded the Nearest to The Pin and Shanella Webster the Longest Drive on day two.
In addition, Dr. Philbert London, (h/cap 24, points 66,) placed fourth in the Men’s ‘B’ Flight, dropping there because, according to him, sympathizing with an older player who had lost his ball, he lost focus and concentration at that hole, enough to drop two or three points into fourth.
The Suriname Open Golf Tournament was played under the Stableford System over two days. Golfers’ total scores were taken from 36 holes to determine their final placement, however, individual day prizes were awarded for the Longest Drive and Nearest to The Pin performances. Participating countries this year were Australia, Curacao, French Guiana, Guyana and host Suriname.
In the Ladies category there were two flights. The first Flight of eight golfers with handicaps ranging between15–21, along with Christine (h/cap 9). The second Flight of seven golfers with handicaps 24–33. In the Men’s category, there were three flights; 28 golfers in the first or ‘A’ Flight were of handicaps 4–15; 17 in the second or ‘B’ Flight of handicaps 14-25; and 12 in the third or ‘C’ Flight of handicaps 26–30.