Johnson, Anthony repeat in Beacon Open

By Hallam Hope

James Johnson completed a hat-trick of wins in the 25th Beacon Barbados Open golf tournament at Royal Westmoreland on Sunday.

And while Antigua and Barbuda’s Kimesha Anthony, like Johnson, played below her best, it was good enough for her to win back-to-back titles with a commanding lead.

Johnson was one over Friday, four under par Saturday and shot level par for a Gross of 213. This was six strokes better than Nick Voss, who shot two over on the final day.

Veteran Carlsen Leacock showed he is still one of the best strikers in the game and was third, winning on the countback from Marcus Clarke with 224.

Anthony, 21, the top player in the Eastern Caribbean, was one under on the opening day which included a superb 32 on the front, but ended with 74 and 75 on successive days.

Despite the inclement weather and strong winds the 25th tournament, the fifth sponsored by The Beacon insurance company, was a memorable occasion.

Ricky Skeete (226) edged out his playing partner Robert Piggott to win the Seniors’ title on the countback. The two friends and winning teammates in the Seniors championship division at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) for two years in a row were locked in a teen tussle throughout the tournament.

Piggott, Skeete and Dr. Oscar Jordan, a former Barbados player and president of the Barbados Golf Association (BGA) and Caribbean Golf Association (CGA), received special 25th anniversary awards for their contributions to the sport.

Piggott is an eight-times winner of the Open and a long-standing Barbados player.

Lynn de Cambra McCleod played well for second place in the women’ championship flight, which included a 73. But while Johnson won by six shots Anthony had 13 on the field. Mary Ince was third in the women’s Gross category.

Richie Alleyne was a commanding winner in the Men’s Super Seniors division with a Gross 245 while John Henry also won the Men’s First Flight convincingly with a Gross 255 shots.

The Nett winner in the Men’s championship flight was Scott Foster (221) with Judd Cozier second on 224. Mary Ince won the women’s Net prize with 215. Neil Giuseppi was the Men’s Nett winner in the first flight with 220, while David Alleyne came second with 227.

The Seniors’ Nett winner was Terry Hanton with 214 while Bill Weir was second with 217 shots. Simon Proverbs was the top junior with 239.