Johnson six strokes up

AT LEFT, YOUNG STAR: Mavi Vergos, just 11 years old, chipping on her way to an opening round 83 and the lead in the women’s division at the United Insurance Barbados Golf Open at Sandy Lane Country Club yesterday. FIST PUMP: Teenager Donald Leacock sinking an eight-foot putt on the third green on his way to an opening round 77 in the United Insurance Barbados Golf Open yesterday.

By Craig Cozier | Sat, September 15, 2012 - 12:04 AM

IT took just one day in the 29th United Insurance Barbados Golf Open for James Johnson to show the form that has made him Barbados’ most decorated golfer.

Johnson, a ten-time champion in the event, produced a two-under-par round of 70 yesterday at Sandy Lane’s Country Club course to distance himself from the rest of the field by six strokes.

The chasing pack is bunched tightly together, with Elvis Medford carding 76, while teenager Donald Leacock, Scott Stollmeyer and Ansari Muhajiri are all one shot back.

In the women’s division, 11-year-old Mavi Vergos was atop a small field of five, carding a fine 83 to lead Muffin Stollmeyer, returning after a long layoff, by one stroke.

Vergos, a Codrington High School student, is the daughter of a Greek diplomat and his Italian wife.

In the senior men’s competitions, former Barbados cricketers Ricky Skeete and Stephen Farmer were in impressive form.

The 62-year-old Farmer had one of the best rounds of the day in the Super Seniors, going under par on the front nine on his way to a brilliant 74 gross.

Former wicket-keeper/

batsman Skeete, on his 60th birthday, was level with Michael Haynes on top the leaderboard of the Seniors, both players posting four-over rounds of 76.

In the men’s first flight, for players with double figure handicaps, Spencer Smith led the way with 82, with a trio of players two shots adrift.

The tournament, regarded as the national championships, continues today and tomorrow.

Leading scores

GROSS

MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

James Johnson – 70; Elvis Medford – 76; Donald Leacock – 77; Ansari Muhajiri – 77; Scott Stollmeyer – 77; Judd Cozier – 78; Simon Grayson – 78; Dave Rajkumar – 78, Adrian Sampson – 78; Thomas Schofield - 78.

MEN’S FIRST FLIGHT

Spencer Smith – 82; Jeffrey Belgrave – 84; Livi Webster – 84; Philip Weekes – 84; Neville Brewster – 85.

SENIOR MEN (OVER-50s)

Ricky Skeete – 76; Michael Haynes - 76; Adrian Mayers – 77; Clive Newman – 78; Charles Cox – 79; Robert Piggott – 79.

SUPER SENIOR MEN’S (OVER-60s)

Stephen Farmer – 74; Monty Chapman – 75; Fabien Lee Foon – 76; Harry Goodman – 80; Cally Boyea – 80.

WOMEN’S

Mavi Vergos – 83; Muffin Stollmeyer – 84; Julia Stephenson – 93.

NET (handicaps in brackets)

MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Elvis Medford – 73 (3); Donald Leacock – 73 (4); Ansari Muhajiri – 73 (4); James Johnson - 74 (+4); Simon Grayson – 74 (4); Scott Stollmeyer – 75 (2); Ivan Codrington – 75 (5); Rendra Gopee – 75 (9).

MEN’S FIRST FLIGHT

Spencer Smith – 69 (13); Jeffrey Belgrave – 69 (15); Philip Weekes – 72 (12); Livi Webster – 73 (11); Neville Brewster – 74 (11).

SENIOR MEN (OVER-50s)

Adrian Mayers – 69 (8); Clive Newman – 70 (8); Ricky Skeete – 72 (4), Michael Haynes – 72 (4); Subash Ranjitsingh – 74 (9); Robert Piggott – 76 (3).

SUPER SENIOR MEN’S (OVER-60s)

Stephen Farmer 69 (5); Monty Chapman – 69 (6); Fabien Lee Foon – 71 (5); Harry Goodman – 71 (9); Cally Boyea – 72 (8); Lennox Mirjah – 72 (11).

WOMEN’S

Mavi Vergos – 74 (9); Muffin Stollmeyer – 79 (5); Julia Stephenson – 84 (9); Zerina Belgrave – 84 (24); Christine Long – 89 (24).