Puerto Rico's captain Andrea Rosado (left) accepts the Hank James Trophy from Assaph Ali, president of the Caribbean Golf Association, after her team retained the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship at the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in St James yesterday. - photo by Adrian Frater
Western Bureau:
On a day when Jamaica's challenge fizzled, defending champions Puerto Rico emerged the toast of the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship at the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Rose Hall, St James, when they amassed a whopping 150 points to retain the Hank James Trophy, symbol of junior golf supremacy in the Caribbean.
"We knew we were capable of retaining the title when we got here so it feels good that we have accomplished that task," said Roberto Birtel, coach of the Puerto Rico team. "I believe a lot of the credit must go to the players, because while the task was not easy, they always were confident of winning."
At the end of the 54-hole championship, the final points tally read: Puerto Rico - 158, Trinidad and Tobago - 130, Dominican Republic - 122, Jamaica - 100, Bahamas - 93, Barbados - 79, US Virgin Islands - 76, The Cayman Islands - 20 and OECS - 0.
High hopes
On a day in which Jamaica started with high hopes of bettering last year's fourth-place finish, it turned out to be a day of mixed fortunes, as while team captain Jonathan Newnham had a terrible day, shooting 81 to finish sixth in the boys 14-15 category, which he was expected to win, others like Vittoria Marley and Robert Grant gave creditable performances.
Newnham, who finished with 230, was eclipsed by the likes of the winner of his category Benjamin Davis, of The Bahamas, whose three rounds of 77, 71 and 72 gave him an overall total of 220, the best score of the tournament. Jamaica's Ian Facey and José Oscar Rodriques of Puerto Rico finished in joint third place with 228.
"I could not find any rhythm out there today and as hard as I tried, it just did not work out for me," said Newnham. "The players who finished ahead of me all did well, so while I am disappointed I must commend them."
Third place
Marley, who started the day in third place in the girls 16-17 category, played quite steady throughout the day and her 88, which was slightly below her 84 and 84 in the previous two rounds, gave her an overall total of 256, which was enough to give her third place.
Monifa Sealy of Trinidad and Tobago, and Patrice Garcia of Puerto Rico were the two players who finished ahead of Marley. Sealy finished with 241 and Garcia finished with 244.
In winning the overall title, the Puerto Ricans had the distinction of winning the girls 13 and under title through Yudika Rodriques, who amassed 261; the boys 13 and under through Frederick Thon, who amassed 228; and Maria Torres, who won the girls 14-15 by amassing 242.
Simon Proverbs of Barbados won the boys 16-17 category in which Jamaica's Robert Grant played gallantly for third. Proverbs finished with 226, Ernesto Jose Vitienes of the Dominican Republic was second with 234, while Grant, who shot a good 77 in his final round, finished with 238.