T&T's top-ranked golfer Chris Richards Jr will be aiming for a third straight T&T Golf Association (TTGA) Tobago Golf Open title when the tournament tees off at the Plantations Golf Course, Magdalena Beach and Resort in Lowlands, Tobago Friday.
Richards, who won the crown in 2022 and 2023, will be going for a hat-trick of wins and is the overwhelming favourite after he was the top male golfer in the Caribbean Golf Championships Hoeman Cup in Barbados from July 1-4. The 21-year-old beat out top amateur players from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands.
The 2023 Pan American Games representative says the Caribbean win was one of his career objectives.
"(To be named the top player in the Hoeman at the Caribbean Golf Championships) was my milestone, my main goal. The course did not play easy. I am glad I came out on top with so many good players in the field," said Richards Jr.
In Tobago, he will face his Hoeman Cup teammates Alex Kangoo and Barbadian Christopher Jackman and Shaquon Harding in the Championships Division along with national players Aiden Ali and Ross Ramkisoon as well as junior player Jerseem Boodram, who is expected to represent T&T at the Junior (Under-23) Pan Am Games in Ascension, Paraguay (August 9-23).
Richards Jr was among the first set of players on the course for the Practice Round yesterday and told Guardian Media Sports he is going for another win.
"(To win a third time)..simple smart golf win guide me to victory. The windy condition is easy."
Jackman said paying attention to the basics of his games will be key to his performance.
He added, "My focus is on the fundamentals and what we need to do to shoot good scores."
Zico Correia completes the eight-man Championship field, which tees off from 10.30 am.
The Second Flight players will be the first to tee off at 8 am, with Kaiden Baynes, Earnest Esdelle and Aba Bally-Roopchand first to swing their clubs from 8 am. The trio is among 18 players in the Class.
Kennedy Flemming and Wayne Baptiste head the list of 10 players in the Super-seniors. Jeffery Azar, Venoo Ramdhanie and Anthony Yearwood will be first up at 9.30 am.
The First Flight and Senior Combined Section will be up next at 10.30 am. Current national golfers Clint Alfred and Desrond Ambrose are the in-form players. Alfred and Ambrose, along with Richards Jr and Kangoo, were members of T&T's third-placed team at the Caribbean Golf Championships' Hoeman Cup.
The Ladies will compete over two days of action from Saturday. Among those in contention are Madison Davis, Nikisha Powder and Dr Emillie Ramsahai
Davis, who is competing in the Open for the first time, is eager to take the greens.
"I am really excited to play. I will be focusing on my mental game and not lose concentration," said the St Joseph Convent-San Fernando student, who has set herself a target.
"A score in the low 80s is the goal, and once I am at my best, I know it will be good. I have been practising and getting advice from my father, who is a player as well."
The Masters Division will also be held from Saturday.
