Bigger United Open next year

Thu, September 20, 2012 - 12:05 AM

BARBADOS’ leading golf tournament, the United Insurance Barbados Open, will be bigger and better next year, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the event.

Following the 29th annual tournament which concluded last Sunday at The Country Club at Sandy Lane, chief operating officer of United Insurance David Alleyne assured local and visiting golfers that the 2013 tournament would be a special event.

“We will work with the BGA (Barbados Golf Association) to make the 30th anniversary a special one.

“These are challenging times but as we go forward United feels that we have a duty, as a good corporate citizen, to continue to support endeavours that allow our people to enjoy clean and wholesome activities and provide an outlet for the expression of excellence,” said Alleyne.

After three days of competition on the greens and fairways, organizers, sponsors, players and supporters gathered for the awards ceremony at the clubhouse of The Country Club where BGA president Hadley Byer thanked all for making the 29th United Barbados Open a successful tournament.

He also thanked cricket legends Sir Garfield Sobers and Desmond Haynes for accepting invitations to play in the tournament that is regarded as the national championship of local golf.

At the end of 54 holes of competition, top Barbados player James Johnson won the title for the 11th time in 15 years, while Muffin Stollmeyer (née Johnson), a national female player, won the women’s championship.

Other winners were: Men’s First Flight – Spencer Smith (249); Senior Men – Michael Haynes (227); Super Seniors (over 60 years) – Monty Chapman (225).

More than 100 players from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, St Kitts and Nevis and the United States took part in the tournament, organized by the BGA. (PR)