Ahamad Ali and Aroon Naraynsingh emerged as the champions of the first Russell Latapy Education and Sport Foundation Charity Golf Tournament at the Millennium Lakes Golf Course, Trincity, on Saturday (November 29). Ali and Naraynsingh, who teed off at Hole number 15, earned a combined score of 63.65 in the Two-Person Scramble format to finish ahead of 37 other pairs.
Ali, who represented T&T at this year’s Caribbean Four-Ball Golf Championships in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in October, and his partner took the top spot ahead of Trent Noel and Clinton Brewster, who were sponsored by Precision Cyber (64.25).
The winners collected two Mabe convention ovens and a $5,000 contribution to a charity of their choice. Runners-up Noel and Brewster walked away with golf bags among their prizes.
Sheriff Babwah and Dr Nigel Lum Hee were third (65.75) while the father-son combination of Jessel and Neville Mohammed (JZ Energy) ended in fourth (66.25).
Dane John and Terrance Coward (66.60) were fifth, followed by Rodney Phillip and Nicholas Wood-Solomon (66.65) and Wayne Baptiste and Newman George (67.00).
Russell Latapy and cricket legend Brian Lara rounded off the top eight. Representing Ernst & Young, the sporting greats also totalled 67.00.
Jessel Mohammed secured the Nearest-the-Pin prize at Hole two while Michael Montano, of the Kes The Band-sponsored pair, was the best at Hole four, with Latapy being closest at Hole 11. Rio Med Limited’s Hal Mohammed beat out all at Hole 17.
The tournament got underway with a shotgun start, where all the players began their quest at the same time (10 am).
The Russell Latapy Education and Sport Foundation was started by former national men’s football captain and coach Russell Latapy, who told Guardian Media Sports that the proceeds will go towards helping students at the Russell Latapy Secondary School in Morvant.
He said, “The Foundation to provide opportunities to (students) at my school, under-privileged kids and for charities that I support, that my family supports and a lot of the golfers here support.”
Latapy added he was encouraged by the support given to the one-day tournament.
“I am very happy about it (by the interest in the tournament). It is our inaugural golf tournament, our first effort. Speaking to many of the golfers, they said they had a good day, which is important to us. We want people to have fun, firstly and we want to be able to contribute to a worthy cause, which is what this is all about.”
The “Little Magician” highlighted that he hopes to get more people playing golf. “We want people to come out and explore and enjoy golf and I think we achieve that. Moving forward, we will see if we could get more people to get involved in golf.”
The sponsors of the Russell Latapy Education and Sport Foundation Charity Golf Tournament were Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Michelob, Angostura, Botanist and Creamery Novelties, Monster Drinks, JMMB Bank, Dasani, Maribrol Insurance Brokers Ltd, Mabe, Tofco, Sunshine Snacks, Jay’s Entertainment, Tyco Farms, Khan’s Poultry, Krave, Optometrist Today, KFC, Subway, HADCO, Glenfiddich Vodka and Votini Vodka.
Results
1 Ahamad Ali/Aroon Naraynsingh 63.65
2 Trent Noel/Clinton Brewster (Precision Cyber) 64.25
3 Sheriff Babwah/Dr Nigel Lum Hee 65.75
4 Jessel Mohammed/Neville Mohammed (JZ Energy) 66.25
5 Dane John/Terrance Coward 66.60
6 Rodney Phillip/Nicholas Wood-Salamon 66.65
7 Wayne Baptiste/Newman George 67.00
8 Russell Latapy/Brian Lara (Ernest & Young) 67.00 CB
9 Jade Agostini/Marcus Jagdeo (Alpha Construction) 67.50
10 Jaleel Baksh/Ryan Lue-Chin (Unit Trust) 68.9
Nearest the Pin
Hole No 2-Jessel Mohammed/Neville Mohammed (JZ Energy)
Hole No 4-Michael Montano/Jono Hirst (Kes The Ban)
Hole No 11-Russell Latapy/Brian Lara
Hole No 17-Hal Mohammed/Willie Medford (Rio Med Limited)
