Golf: The Creole Spirit Match-play competition-Weidner, Volcère, Pouponneau and Hoareau winners |13 May 2005

The brainchild of golfers Charlie Morin and Sunil Shah, the competition faced some cynicism initially – Charlie dreamt it up and Sunil readily agreed for Trinity Estate (Pty) Ltd, the owners of The Creole Spirit Building in Victoria, to sponsor the tournament. 

As the scenario unfolded, it was clearly going to become a fairly regularly used format on the golf calendar.  The Creole Spirit seemed to have started a trend different from the usual stableford and medal formats.

There were eight teams of four members each and the first round was played on Saturday afternoon (May 7).  Each member of a team played one match, with a win earning the team two points and a draw one point. 

Three teams had clear victories over their opponents.  The sponsor’s team, comprising Sunil Shah, Louis Vandagne, Sajnish Puri and club captain Rizvi, had two victories and two losses against the team of Jerry Jean-Baptiste, Patrick Asba, Steven Ah-Moye and Andrew Hoareau.  The two teams then decided to pit Vandagne against Jean-Baptiste for a sudden death play-off.

Jerry scored a routine par on the first hole. Louis, however, failed to capitalise on a good drive and his chip was way short of the green.  He only managed to get on the green in three and then two-putted, thus gifting victory to the opponents.  Jerry’s team went on to the second round.

Sixteen golfers started their matches early on Sunday morning. At the end of the second round which counted for the semifinal, it was the youngsters who prevailed over their opponents. Perhaps just as well, the heat was so sapping, one doubted if anyone of them could have gone out again at 2 p.m. for the final 18 holes.

The tournament was finally won by the team consisting of William Weidner, Wilson Volcère, Gary Pouponneau and Damien Hoareau, a well deserved win over 54 holes of golf. 

The runners-up were the team comprising Andrew Hoareau, Steven Ah-Moye, Jerry Jean-Baptiste and Patrick Asba. 

The prizes were awarded by Sunil Shah who represented Trinity Estate (Pty) Ltd.  He said that the “Creole Spirit” epitomises “team spirit” and therefore appreciated the enthusiastic participation by local golfers and promised that this competition will become a regular annual event on the Seychelles golfing calendar. 

The sponsor also hosted the participants to a lunch at the club.  Club captain Zee Rizvi thanked Mr Shah for their support of the club.

There was also a club sponsored subsidiary competition played on Sunday morning. Alix Esparon won first place with 36 points, Catney Laporte second place with 33 points and Louis Vandagne third with 31 points.