Persaud, Sukhram take day one honours

Teenage golf prodigy Avinash Persaud took day one honours in the championship flight with two previous winners in contention, while defending ladies champion Christine Sukhram held steady on an intriguing day of the Power Stout Guyana Open Golf championships yesterday at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Persaud, who won the tournament in 2006 when he was only 16-years-old, proved that he is a cut above the rest in recording a Gross 74 playing off a handicap of one in the championship flight for players with handicaps 0-9.

The consistent Mohanlall Dinanauth was in second position with a Gross score of 76 (his handicap is also one) while defending champion Imran Khan (handicap three) was in third position with a Gross score of 77.

Colin Ming and Canadian-based Jai Paul, another former champion are both tied on Gross scores of 79.

Ian Gouveia is the current leader in the 10-17 flight with a Gross score of 81 playing off a handicap 12.

Canadian High Commissioner Francois Montour (handicap17) rolled into the second position on a count back and he tied with Seu Paul (handicap10) with Gross 83.

Veteran Maurice Solomon (handicap 18) commanded the lead in the 18-23 flight with a Gross 89 followed by Gavin Todd (handicap 19) on 90 and Ayube Subhan (handicap 20) in third place with 91.

European Union Ambassador Geerts Heikens took the lead in the 24-28 flight played under the Stableford system.

Heikens and Jorge Medina both recorded 34 points but Heikens secured the lead on a count back.

In the ladies competition, Sukhram took the honours with a Gross score of 90 playing off a handicap of seven to lead the Guyanese women against their Surinamese counterparts.

Joaan Deo (handicap 24 was in second position with Gross 93 while Surinamese Nam Kim lies third with Gross 99.

The tournament that has attracted 76 players and sponsored by local beverage giants Banks DIH Ltd. ends today.

The tee off was done by Power Stout Sales Consultant Michael Fung.