There are two new champions of golf in Barbados.
| National player Carlsen Leacock slammed the contenders to win the men’s title in the 2015 Massy United Insurance Barbados Open while Leiza Munn-Blakeley took the women’s equivalent, at the Royal Westmoreland Club. Going into the final day, yesterday, Leacock held a convincing five-stroke lead after the first 36 holes and produced another impressive round to stave off his rivals on a rainy and pressure-filled day . The champion, who previously won the Barbados Open in the 1980’s, posted a three-over-par 75 yesterday to finish with a three-day gross 226, which was six strokes better than second-placed Roger Bostic, who shot 76 yesterday for a gross 232. Third was Scott Stollmeyer, with a 54-hole gross 233 and fourth, defending champion Julian Jordan, who shot 77 for a gross 234. “ I am very happy about the win. Conditions were a bit challenging with the rain but I knew I had to play well to make it happen and I did it,” said Leacock, who is known for his attacking play and shot-making. Thirteen year-old Xzavier Wiggins, who shot 76 on Saturday and was among the contenders chasing Leacock, finished fifth in the men’s championship, with a gross 238. Another national junior Iz Hustler was seventh with 243. Among the women, Jamaica-born Munn-Blakeley, who represented Barbados for the first time this year at the Caribbean championships, won the women’s championship with a 54-hole gross 245. She registered 80 yesterday and ended well clear of second-placed Marilyn Jackson (277). National junior Allyssa Inniss-Gittens, a 14 year-old student of St. Winifreds, won the women’s first flight with a gross of 262, having shot 85 yesterday. Second was Emily Odwin, another national junior, with a gross 295. In other divisions, which were also completed on the final day at Royal Westmoreland, Malcolm Hunte successfully defended his title in the men’s first flight, with a gross 268, while Walter Redman was second on 271 and Manesh Panjwani third with 274. Among the Seniors (50 years and over), Ivan Codrington miraculously held on to his one-stroke overnight lead and shot 80 yesterday, to win by one stroke over defending champion Charles Cox. Codrington dropped some critical strokes after entering the hazard at the 18th hole, but held and finished with a gross 233 while Cox shot 234 and Robert Piggott 239. Bill Weir also defended his Super Seniors crown, winning over Terry Hanton with a gross 227. Hanton shot 234. More than 100 players who took part in the tournament, which was also played at Apes Hill and the Barbados Golf Club, and among them were West Indies ODI captain Jason Holder, coach Phil Simmons and physiotherapist CJ Clark. After play on the fairways and greens- players, officials, sponsors and other supporters of golf were last night attending a major awards ceremony in the club-house at Royal Westmoreland. By Bernard Babb |  Massy United Insurance Barbados Open golf champion Carlsen Leacock goes for the green on Hole No.8 enroute to his victory at Royal Westmoreland yesterday.  Leiza Munn-Blakley shot a gross 245 to win the women's championship. |
