MULLET BAY-- Howard Hobgood turned out to be the best player in the two-day tournament played this past weekend and prolonged his title with a cumulative score of 153. Even though he was less accurate than last year he still secured the championship title during the 25th Annual St. Maarten Open Golf Tournament.
The prize for Tournament Overall Low Net was won by Didier Kerfour from St. Maarten with a total Low Net score of 135.
The Championship flight with 13 players all with a handicap between 0-10, consisted of a lot of players that were determined to chase the first day leaders on the second day of the tournament. Still, Open champion Howard Hobgood beat them by three strokes.
During the two-day 36 hole tournament that took place over the weekend at the Mullet Bay Golf Course,a total amount of 80 players from both St. Maarten and St. Martin, joined by a large group of golfers from Anguilla, France, St. Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe as well as from the USA and the Netherlands, got started with an opening reception for players and sponsors on Friday evening at the Sunset Beach Bar at Maho Beach.
The tournament got underway on Saturday morning for the first round. After the second round on Sunday a recognition party and awards ceremony was held at the Sky Beach Bar and Lounge.
In the Champions category, the prize of 1st Low net was won by Louis Louchet from St. Martin with a score of 139, 2nd Low net was won by Stanley Samuel from St. Maarten.
In the category Men’s 1st flight for players with a handicap between 11 and 18, Yannick Cazemajou from St. Martin came out on top with a score of 174 Low Gross, Steven Carty took first Low Net with a score of 146.
In the Men’s 2nd Flight for players with a handicap between 18 and 36, first Low Gross was won by Charly Sermanson from Guadeloupe with a score of 185, first Low Net went to Andy Holmes from Anguilla with a score of 145.
In a strong field of female players, the prize for Low Gross in the Ladies category went to Sidsel Jacobsen from St. Maarten with a score of 183. Low Net was won by Gitte Poulsen from St. Maarten with a score of 152.
Philippe Thevenet from St. Martin shot 168 to win once again the Low Gross in the category Senior’s 1st Flight for players over 50 years old and with a handicap up to 18, while Didier Kerfourn took 1st Low Net in this category with a score of 135.
In Senior’s 2nd Flight for players with a handicap between 19 and 36, first Low Gross was won by Glenford Gumbs from Anguilla with a score of 198, first Low Net went to Ricardo Perez from St. Maarten with a score of 148.
This year again a large amount of players participated in the category Super Seniors for golfers over 60 years old. Therefor this category was split up for players with a handicap up to 18 and a category with handicaps from 19 to 36.
In the ‘Super Senior’s 1st Flight’, Steven Mix from St. Maarten won Low Gross with a score of 165 and Low Net was won by Francois Anton from St. Martin with a score of 139. The category ‘Super Seniors 2nd Flight’ was won by Bernard Schmitt from France with a score of 199 Low Gross. Frank Jespersen won Low Net in this category with a score of 153.
The St. Maarten Golf Association (SMGA) was able to organise this top-ranked tournament due to the great partnership with Mullet Bay Resort & Golf Course and CC1, combined with the relentless efforts from its members, volunteers and the tremendous support it received from both the local and international business community. Proceeds from the event will benefit pre-selected community organisations supporting sports for the youth of St. Maarten.
