Golf Classic likely to go regional

RBTT marketing manager Frank Drakes (right) accepting his trophy from Horace Cobham.

Wed, December 01, 2010 - 12:02 AM

The RBC/RBTT Classic, one of the most popular golf tournaments on the local calendar, is poised to get even bigger and better.

According to Horace Cobham, country head of the RBC/ RBTT Bank in Barbados, the sponsors and the organisers – the Barbados Golf Association – are working to make the Classic a Caribbean event.

Cobham made the disclosure on Sunday at the Barbados Golf Club, while addressing golfers during the prize-giving ceremony for the 2010 edition of the tourney.

“We have challenged the BGA to take the Classic to another level,” Cobham said.

“RBC/RBTT is represented across the region and we would like to see it as a regional tournament, probably in another two years.”

Following the recent acquisition of RBTT by Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the local golfing community has been anticipating wider support for the sport across the Caribbean as RBC

has a tradition of supporting top-flight golf internationally.

Expectations are that the region’s top players will be competing with Barbados’ best for the coveted Classic crystal trophy by 2012.

Cobham said that golf was in the DNA of the sponsors, and noted that they have supported the PGA tour for years, as well as individuals such as Trinidadian Stephen Ames.

President of the BGA, Birchmore Griffith, thanked RBC/RBTT for their support of the Classic and said they were happy to work with the sponsors to expand the event and help to elevate Barbados as an attractive golfing destination.

Griffith also thanked the Barbados Golf Club for doing a fine job in getting the course in good shape after the challenges posed with the passing of Tropical Storm Thomas in late October.

One hundred and twenty players took part in the 2010 Classic, which was played over 36 holes and offered more than 20 prizes.

Stephen Layne took home the top prize after edging out Judd Cozier in a one-shot thriller, while Lynn DeCambra won the women’s championship.

Frank Drakes took the honours in the men’s flight and Roger Piggott won the senior title.

(BB)