The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FORMER softball/baseball player Francis Adderley, who has played well in partnership with others in recent times, emerged as the champion of his first individual tournament over the weekend.

Competing in the Bahamas Golf Federation’s two-day President’s Cup Tournament on Saturday and Sunday at the Royal Blue Golf Club and sponsored by Royal Fidelity, Adderley emerged with a one-stroke win over Nolan Johnson.

After taking the lead with a score of 71 on day one, which was hampered by the rain, Adderley held on with a 72 to out-score Johnson, who came back on the final day with a 70 to add to his 74 on day one for his total of 144.

Andrew Benjamin got third place with 146 (76-70); Anthony Hinsey got fourth with 147 (77-70) and Horace Miller rounded out the top five with 148 (74-74).

Adderley, who normally teams up with Richard Gibson Jr, who is currently in New York participating in the 43th US Mid-Amateur Golf Championships, said he was pleased with his performance.

“I’ve been trying to get my game to the level where I can be competitive,” Adderley said. “The competition is always keen when you are playing these types of events, but I was very pleased with my performance.

“The course was in very good condition. Even though we had some rain on the first day, it was pretty sunny on the final day. So I’m very pleased that I was able to get a good start on the first day and it held up for me on the final day.”

Adderley said he’s now looking forward to teaming up with Gibson Jr on September 18 in the 2nd annual Tee Off For Hunger Golf Tournament at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island, where they will be out to defend their title and to cart off some of the exciting prizes that will be up for grabs. 

Johnson, the latest Bahamian to secure a ranking on the USGA’s world ranking where he’s pegged at 887, said he was delighted to be able to perform as well as he did in the tournament.

“I played okay. I started the first round and finished two-over-par and I shot the final round two-under-par,” Johnson said. “I stroked the ball very well, but Francis just shot a little bit better, especially on day one and he held on longer than I did.”

Johnson is now preparing to team up with Gibson on October 10 as they participate in the US Amateur Four-Ball Championship qualifier at the Bayou Oaks South Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. If they qualify, they will participate in the championships at the Philadelphia Cricket Club from May 25-29, 2024.

While Gibson Jr heads the list for Bahamians on the world stage at 245, BGF president Lyford Miller trails Johnson at about 1,459 and Heathcliff Kane is sitting about 2,452.

Although it wasn’t a big field as the BGF had anticipated, Miller said they were still pleased with the turnout and the results posted.

“The crowd wasn’t as big as we wanted too. We felt it was attributed to the hurricane that was passing and some people didn’t know if it as going to affect us or not,” Miller said.

“We had some rain on the first day, but the remainder of the day and the second day was all good. “

Miller, who also played and finished 17th overall and was fifth in the Mid-Amateur division, said the competition was extremely tough amidst the golfers who came out and anticipated.

He thanked their main sponsor Royal Fidelity, whose vice president of corporate Finance, Jim Wilson, was on hand to assist in the awards presentation. The BGF will stage its qualifier on Saturday and Sunday at Royal Blue for the men’s senior team for the 2023 Four-Ball Championships from October 15-20 at Royal Blue. 

Here’s a breakdown of the top performers in the various categories:

Ladies division - Rosa Lua with 172 (83-89); Mia Underwood - 180 (84-96); Payton Haye - 185 (87-98) and Thaddia Simms - 223 (87-98).

Legends - Oswald Moore - 155 (77-78); James Steven Wallace - 157 (71-86).

Mid Amateur - Nolan Johnson - 144 (74-70); Trevor Wallace - 151 (74-77); Livio Bisterzo - 159 (78-81); Christopher Adderley - 159 (78-81); Lyford Miller - 163 (82-81); Evan Cartwright - 168 (85-83) and Ural Pratt - 169 (85-83).

Regular - Andrew Benjamin - 146 (76-70); Juan Wilson - 149 (76-73); Malcolm Adderley - 173 (92-81) and Travis Cartwright -215 (104-111).

Seniors - Peter McIntosh - 152 (7379); Neil Abrahams - 156 (77-79); Dwight Tinker - 158 (78-80); Lawrence Glinton - 161 (82-79); Kelsey Rolle - 167 (85-82); 82; Colin Lightbourn - 178 - (83-95); Marc Robinson - 181 (84-97) and Crestwell Gardiner - 188 (100-88).

Super seniors - Francis Adderley - 143 (71-72); Anthony Hinsey - 147 (77-70); Horace Miller - 148 (74-74); Raymind Gibson - 156 (76-80) and Larry Wilson - 174 (86-88).

President’s Cup - Francis Adderley - 143 (71-72); Nolan Johnson - 144 (74-70)’ Andrew Benjamin - 146 (76-70); Anthony Hinsey - 147 (77-70)’ Horace Miller - 148 (74-74); Juan Wilson - 149 (76-73); Trevor Wallace - 151 (74-77); Peter McIntosh - 152 (73-79); Oswald Moore - 155 (77-78) and Neil Abrahams (77-79) and Raymond Gibson (76-80) tied with 156.