l St John's

Trinidad and Tobago golfers Clint Alfred and Neal Edmund placed second to overall champions Adrian Norford of St Kitts and Nevis and Max Raffoul of Dominica in the International Pairs Caribbean Tournament held last Friday and Saturday in Antigua. However, there was also some success for former West Indies cricket captain, Sir Vivian Richards.

Norford and Raffoul amassed 81 points, followed by Alfred and Edmund with 76 in the Caribbean section of the tournament. It was two days of intense and very competitive golf and 30 minutes of checking and rechecking scores before Richards, brand ambassador for APUA and veteran player Errol Samuel emerged as the winning Antigua and Barbuda pair at the Cedar Valley Golf Course.

Both winning pairs will be going to Scotland to represent Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean and this according to Zorol Barthley, CEO of Golf Experience Caribbean, and the organisers of the INET International Pairs Caribbean Tournament will be a first.

"The level of competition was fabulous, all of the golfers strived to have the honour of representing their country and region. And I want to say hearty congratulations to Sir Viv and Errol Samuel, both of whom are amazing ambassadors of   the game. I also want to congratulate the Caribbean pair of Adrian Norford of St. Kitts and Nevis and Max Raffoul of Dominica for showing us that integration in sports only makes us stronger," said Barthley.

Raffoul is hoping that his victory will inspire players in the nature isle: "It is an absolute honour to win despite there being no golf course in my home land and I am hoping that one day all my hard work across the region will result in a golf course of our own in Dominica."

The Trinidad and Tobago participation in the tournament was organised by Richard Lara, who said the players were more than impressed with the course.

"In speaking to the Trinidad and Tobago players, many of whom have travelled throughout the region playing golf, we have found that without exception, the golf course (Cedar Valley) is one of the best in the Caribbean – the layout, the views and if, you add the greens of Sandy Lanes or Great Westmoreland it will be the best course in the Caribbean. And I want to encourage the Government to invest in this golf course as it is a gem in the Caribbean."

Richards and Samuel and Norford and Raffoul each received trophies donated by Golf Experience Caribbean, INET tablets, a bottle each of Johnnie Walker Gold Label and Guess watches from Colombian Emeralds International.

Alfred and Edmund received a trophy donated by Golf Experience Caribbean, one bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label and a goody bag from Colombian Emeralds International.