A. J. Shah & Associates Golf Challenge-Andrew Hoareau prevails |07 October 2005

As has been customary for this event, there was a good turnout, with 32 golfers playing the front nine holes in the medal format and the back nine for stableford points. 

Only five golfers carded net scores of par or better after the front nine.  With scores of 33 net and under, Andrew Hoareau, Harold Prea, Louis Vandagne, Wilson Volcère and Jimmy Esther all laid claim to the beautiful trophy designed by well-known local sculptor Tom Bowers, with a miniature coco-de-mer representing a golf ball. 

Other notables were Pascal Esparon, Francis Mondon and Alix Esparon with just one net stroke over par.

Although Andrew Richardson tried to stage a recovery from his two over par 35 to gather 19 points from his stableford back nine, it was only good enough to fetch him the best back nine prize which was not a bad effort in the end.

There was a host of 17 points on the back nine from the likes of Godfrey Andrade, Margaret Pragassen, John Richardson, Johnny Savy, Simon Dine, Jocelyn Ah-Yu and Joe Andrade.  However, this proved unable to compensate for their poorer performance on the front nine.

Amongst the frontrunners, only Andrew Hoareau, Harold Prea and Louis Vandagne maintained any degree of consistency through the 18 holes and it certainly brought them rich rewards.  Wilson Volcère and Jimmy Esther could not keep up the hard work and fell by the wayside with 16 and 13 respectively. Esparon’s fighting 18 points were inadequate for the overall standings.

Although Harold Prea matched Andrew Hoareau’s 18 points, the former could not beat the latter’s total of 12 net and had to settle for second place with 14 points.  Andrew Hoareau romped home to first place and Louis Vandagne took third position.

Patrick Asba had to console himself with a prize for the nearest to the pin and Steven Ah-Moye’s longest drive was the saving grace in his otherwise lacklustre game last Saturday.
The prizes were handed over during a glittering dinner gala later that evening by the firm’s partners, Mr A. J. Shah and Mr Sunil Shah.

Sunil, himself a keen golfer and a former captain of the Seychelles Golf Club, said that he was happy to once again see a robust turnout for the competition and on behalf of the firm pledged continued support to the club and to the development of the game of golf in Seychelles
Club captain Johnny Savy thanked the sponsors for their longstanding support of the club’s activities.