Roye stands tall at T&T Open
ZANDRE Roye led from day one of the four-day Trinidad & Tobago Open Golf Championship to become the first Jamaican to win the championship. He outclassed the 27-strong field to win by nine shots at the Tobago Plantation Golf Course on Sunday.
Roye posted scores of four over par 76, one under par 71, one over par 73 and par 72 from day one to four respectively, where he ended every day as the leader and went into the final day with a two-shot lead. His overall score was four over par 292. His nearest rival was Zico Correia — 13 over par 301 (78, 72, 72, 79) who ended in second place and Chris Richards Jr — 18 over par 306 (87, 74, 72, 73) who grabbed third place. Both men hail from Trinidad & Tobago.
Roye is pleased with the win while saying that it was his biggest ever.
“Starting the last day, I wasn’t really nervous,” he said. “I have been in this position before where I am leading or tied for the lead in an Open. A couple months ago I played the Barbados Open and I was tied for the lead going into the last day with the same two golfers who I played with in Tobago over the weekend, so I knew what to expect going into the last day. I knew each shot matters. Stay patient and let them come to you. I am already in the lead. Just try not to make any silly mistakes. Stay focus, and try and execute each shot to the best of my ability. I think I did pretty well in the that department.”
He now looks forward to the Easter Jamboree at the Upton Estate Golf & Country Club in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
The two other Jamaicans in the championship flight were former national champions Oshae Haye and Sean Morris who posted scored of 331 and 334 to end in 15th place and 18 place, respectively.
Jamaica won the President’s Cup on the back of Roye and Haye. Trinidad & Tobago was second while St Kitts & Nevis was third.
Peter Camacho of Trinidad & Tobago topped the Senior’s Flight after posting a combined score of 25 over par 313 ahead of his countryman Russell Latapy with his score of 29 over par 317. Mark Newnham placed fourth in the category after scoring 44 over par 332.
Second went to Zeke Percival of St Kitts & Nevis 16 over par 304 while Latapy posted 205 for third place.
Robert Chin and Norman Price were fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Super Senior’s Flight while Dorrel Allen placed 12th in the Master’s Flight.
The Jamaica Olympic Association and the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission assisted Jamaica to field its team to the championship.