Golf: Seychelles Summer Open |18 March 2023
The players and representatives of Absa Bank Seychelles in a souvenir photo
Absa Seychelles sponsors successful second local seasonal golf tournament
Absa Seychelles successfully sponsored the second seasonal open tournament for the Seychelles Golf Federation, the Seychelles Summer Open, held at the Lemuria golf course on Praslin last Saturday.
In an exciting showcase of skill and sportsmanship, the recent competition witnessed a slew of gifted athletes vying for the top spot. The event took place over the course of a day, with the competitors fiercely battling it out for the ultimate prize of crystal trophies and exclusive Absa-branded merchandise.
The competition kicked off in style with a shotgun start at 9am, setting the tone for the rest of the day. The results of the tournament will be counted towards the national order of merit and used for the selection of players for upcoming international tournaments held abroad. This is a significant opportunity for gifted Seychellois golfers to showcase their skills on an international platform.
Best overall gross went to William Weidner followed in second place by Jerry Jean-Baptiste, who also won the nearest to the pin.
Best overall nett was won by Riaz Aumeeredy, followed closely by Jemmy Esther with the second-best nett score. Jemmy also won the longest drive on hole 18. Coming in third on nett was Francis Mondon.
The best lady player for the day was Winsel ‘Sly’ Pothin, coming in ahead of three other ladies.
Jake Searles, a junior player, managed to cinch the best front nine during the tournament, and Vishal Shah won the best back nine.
This successful event is a result of the sponsorship agreement signed by Absa Bank Seychelles Limited and the Seychelles Golf Federation (SGF) last August.
The agreement has effectively made Absa Seychelles the main sponsor of the SGF, allowing the SGF to finance national golf competitions as well as international competitions through a National Order Merit programme.
"We are thrilled to have sponsored the second Seychelles seasonal golf tournament and to have partnered with the Seychelles Golf Federation to help empower the next generation of Seychellois golfers. Through this initiative, we are able to support the development of golf in Seychelles, and to provide talented golfers with the opportunity to take part in international tournaments. We look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of golf in Seychelles," said Nazim Mahmood, managing director of Absa Bank Seychelles while speaking about Saturday’s tournament.
The forthcoming autumn tournament, the next scheduled event in the seasonal programme, will be held this year, with further information to be disclosed in the coming months.
This partnership has been instrumental in providing opportunities for Seychellois golfers to build up their points and eventually get selected for international competitions, with some aiming to go on to become professional athletes.
Absa Seychelles is proud to be a part of this initiative and is committed to supporting the development of sports in Seychelles.
Text and photo contributed