Johnson unstoppable as Beacon winner
By Hallam Hope
James Johnson turned up the pressure on the back nine to win the 26th Beacon Barbados Open golf tournament at Royal Westmoreland Sunday.
Below his best on the first two days, Johnson went into the final round Sunday with Antiguan Omari James leading by one stroke and his title looking shaky.
But when he picked up his game with some superb putting and chipping on the back nine his 33 propelled him past James and earned him his fourth title in a row and eighth overall.
Johnson finished with 67 (34, 33) or five under par while James, the very talented Antiguan 20 year-old, had to settle for second place with 71 (34, 37).
It was not to be a double for the Antiguans but James' compatriot Kimesha Anthony notched a hat-trick of wins in convincing fashion but not with the scores she would have liked.
Her 72, 74 and 76 took her to 222 shots overall, 17 more than the field. But her personal goal of shooting under par was not fulfilled.
President of the Barbados Golf Association (BGA) Birchmore Griffith was on fire Sunday to win the Super Seniors Men's title by two strokes from Trinidadian Monty Chapman. Griffith had trailed by one stroke Saturday but set up the win with an excellent 37 on the front.
Robert Piggott came back from trailing his partner Ricky Skeete and won the Men's Seniors title on the countback after both players finished with 226 shots overall.
John Phillips and Andrew Guilfoyle had a titanic batle for the Men's First flight and it was Phillips coming through by one stroke to win with 257 shots over the three days. |
