Team seven, comprising Robert Cole, Stephen Willems, Larry Field and Dennis Field, led with a score of 67 at the end of yesterday’s opening day of the 23rd annual Baxter Travel Golf Tournament at the Sandals Golf and Country Club.

Team six, which includes Chippy Jega, Virgilio Russi, Naqalingham Spirkathan, and Michael Degrace, closed the day a shot behind in second place.

Team two of Mitchell McClung, Colton Chia, Carol Burnes and Cathy Matieshin was third with a score of 70, while Team three (Pam Lecky, Quincy Lecky, Cargill Gordon and Douglas Gunnis) was fourth with 71.

Team five (Lorne Umsheild, Laurie Umsheild, John Steel and Marleene Steel) finished yesterday on 72 for fifth place.

Yesterday also featured competition for the ‘longest drive’. Jackie Smith of team one topped the ladies’ category for longest drive, while Willems of team seven led the way in the men’s equivalent.

Action is scheduled to resume on today’s final day at 8:30 am.

The two-day tournament welcomes over 90 influential Canadian travel agents and tour operators. It is the third major international travel agent golfing event to be staged at the venue in a month after the Sandals United States and Latin American travel agents tournaments, respectively, and involves 18 four-member teams competing in the scramble format.

The events promote Jamaica as a golfing destination with the goal of boosting the nation’s tourism industry.