The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE team of national team member Peter McIntosh and his cousin John’ Baldy’ McIntosh emerged as the champions of the first King Eric Gibson Memorial Golf Classic at Lyford Cay Golf Club on Sunday.

The duo pulled off the net title with a score of 65.1 over the team of Scott McKenzie and John Kinger, who came in a close second with 66.0. The gross winners were George Swann and Horace Miller, who shot a 68.0 to edge out the veteran national team pair of Chris Harris and Shane Gibson.

The tournament, hosted by the Bahamas Golf Federation, attracted golfers from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Chicago as they all paid their respects to the late legendary King Eric Gibson, who died on December 28, 2013 at the age of 79.

Among those who showed up to pay tribute as the golfers reflected on the “good old days” were Ambrose Gouthro, federation president Craig Flowers, Prince ‘Zorro’ Stubbs and Jim Duncombe. Following the two-man scramble play on the golf course, the participants were entertained by the ‘So Be It’ band during the awards luncheon at Bahama Grill.

On their way to victory, the McIntosh duo shot six birdies and an eagle to claim their top prize, which they dedicated to the late Gibson.

“We’re a pretty good team. We have been playing together for a number of years, even though we haven’t played much in the last few years,” Peter said of the chemistry with John. “He’s a really strong golfer. I’ve never had a partner that strong since the late James Gardiner.

“We haven’t played together since the Cable Beach Golf Club closed down, but we won a tournament in Grand Bahama a few years ago in a best ball charity event, so it was good to be reunited again in such a prestigious event for such a prominent Bahamian.”

On the 12th hole, the McIntosh duo made an eagle and from there they knew they were going to have a great day, despite making two bogeys.

John McIntosh, a resident of Abaco, said he even skipped church on Sunday just so that he could participate in the tournament in honour of Gibson, whom he regards as a very close friend and mentor.

“I prayed all day on the golf course that we will win,” he said. “It’s my second time playing the golf course, but I was steady. Me and Peter humbled the field. We had our problems on the par-three holes, but we humbled the par-fives. The golf course was in excellent shape.

“A couple of years ago, Peter had asked me to continue practicing because I had given up on golf because there was no tournaments and no where to play. But I got back into it and we managed to get in one or two tournaments and we started to play together again. We complemented each other very well.”

Harris, who came in from Grand Bahama to be reunited with Minister of Labour Shane Gibson, said they had a great time.

“We played pretty good. I think we could have made a few more putts, but all in all, we had a great day,” he said. “We played for King Eric, who was just like my dad as he was Shane’s dad. So it was a great day. I had a wonderful time. We haven’t played competitive golf consistently, so we didn’t make as many putts as we would have liked to, but we hit the ball very well.”

Noted Gibson of their partnership: “We played alright. Chris and I played for many years on many national teams. We shot three-under, which was pretty respectable. Today, our game wasn’t on as much, but we still managed to finish right up there.”

Minister Gibson thanked all of the golfers who came out and made the event a success.

“The golfers turned out in great numbers. We were expecting between 80-90 and we ended up with a field of about 78 and so they along with the sponsors really came through,” he said. “It was a great day to play golf. We intentionally set it up as a two-man scramble so the play could go faster. 

“Overall, I was very pleased with the way things turned out. We are giving part proceeds to the Bahamas Golf Federation to assist with their junior development programme and the national team travel because they are having difficulties putting on tournaments. So we expect to make this an annual tournament and we’re hoping that it gets better and better every year.”

Two of the rising young female golfers, Inecia Rolle and Michelle Lodge, finished eighth place in the net category.

Eric ‘Ricky’ Gibson Jr said they are extremely grateful to the amount of persons who came on board and sponsored the tournament as well as Ben West and the management of Lyford Cay for hosting the golfers.

“All of the sponsors stepped up big time and they made it possible for us to offer some very attractive prizes,” he said. “We were very pleased with the turnout. We felt that everybody came out and helped us to celebrate as we try to keep the memory of King Eric alive.

“We’re definitely looking forward to the next one. Everybody came out and made it a point to make this first one a success. So we’re going to take the charge and go out every year and continue to put this tournament on.”

The list of sponsors included Hilton China Construction, Bimini Bay, Atlantis, Sky Bahamas, Bahamasair, John Bull, Ocean Club, Lyford Cay Golf Club, Baha Mar, Diamonds International, Centreville Food Store, Albany, Executive Motors, Bahama Wholesale Agency and Sandals Emerald Bay.

None of the golfers came close to winning the 2015 Lexus 300, the 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid or the golf cart that was offered as hole-in-one prizes.

Flowers, a long-time friend of the late Gibson, said that while the BGF has had its share of problems trying to get a location to host their tournaments, it’s testament to the Gibson family that the Lyford Cay Club opened their doors and so many golfers took advantage of the opportunity to compete.

“We have to give kudos to Shane and Ricky (Gibson brothers and sons of the late Gibson) and the organising committee,” Flowers said. “I attended several meetings and I was extremely impressed with the work ethic and a lot of things that they were able to get done in an environment that you see today.

“I think the legacy of the late King Eric is going to be with us for a long time. I think that a lot of people really appreciate his contribution to the sport. We will always feel a great deal of gratitude to King Eric, particularly myself because I had a very good close relationship with him over the years. I think that there is something that all of us will take with us as we keep his memory alive.”

As the tournament will now become an annual one on the BGF’s calendar, Flowers said the organising committee will ensure that they improve on what happened in he initial tournament.

Next up for the BGF is a four-day event for the National Amateur Golf Championships at the end of the month. Flowers said they were able to secure one round of golf each day at Paradise Island, Bahamar, Lyford Cay and Albany and he thanked the properties for assisting them in this venture.

The Nationals will also serve as the final trials for the team that the BGF will select to represent the Bahmas at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships. The CAGC will be held in August. But Flowers said the challenge will be bringing the team together to practice once the selection has been made.