Zandre Roye Destroys Field to Win T&T Open Golf Champs

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 destroyed the twenty-seven 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 – thirteen over par 301 (78, 72, 72, 79) who ended in second place and Chris Richards Jr. – eighteen over par 306 (87, 74, 72, 73) who grabbed third place. Both men hail from Trinidad & Tobago.

Roye was very pleased with the win while saying that it was his biggest win ever as he described how he felt during the difficult conditions on the final day. “I went into the last day, final day with a two-shot lead over my closest competitor who is Zico Carreia from Trinidad & Tobago. Starting the last day, I wasn’t really nervous. 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 focused and try and execute each shot to the best of my ability. I think I did pretty well in the that department.”

“I started off the day, the first five holes I got a few shots ahead of the closest person to me. So after the first five holes I was five ahead in the championship. After the first nine holes I was nine shots ahead with nine to play. So for the back nine of the tournament it was pretty much just hit fiarways, try and hit greens and make a few puts coming in. And playing the last hole with a nine-shot lead, there was no better feeling. Hitting a good tee shot down there, hitting the green on a par five putting for eagle with a nine shot lead. Words can’t begin to describe how I feel. This is my biggest win so far.”

He now looks forward to the Easter Jamboree at the Upton Estate Golf & Country Club which is his home course.

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.

Dr. Mark Newnham won the Senior’s Flight after posting six over par 294. Second went to Zeke Percival of St. Kitts & Nevis 16 over par 304 while Russell Latapy of Trinidad & Tobago 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.