Young Jamaican golfers recently completed a three-day trial at Caymanas Golf Club, performing well under difficult conditions.
The trials were aimed at selecting a team for this year’s Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship, which will also be held at Caymanas Golf Club in early July of this year.
Trey Williams led the boys and Mattea Issa led the girls with a great performance. Williams shot a 2-under 70 on the final day, becoming the only golfer to post an under-par score.
Williams competed against six other players in the boys 18 and under division. He shot an 8-over 80, a 4-over 76, and a 2-under 70 over the three days, for a total of 10-over 226, his highest finish in a local tournament to date.
“I feel really good. I was pretty depressed after the first day, but I just kept my cool. I knew I could play well on this course, so I just tried to play conservatively the next two days. I gave it my all and it worked out,” Williams said.
He is now looking forward to the championship.
“I saw what the championship was like on this very course and I know I can play well on this course, so I’m going to continue to practice and make sure my game is at the highest level and get ready for the championship.” I’m going to give it my all when it comes,” and make sure I do well. ”
Aman Diman took second place with scores of 72, 84, and 78 for a total score of 18-over par 234, with Ryan Lu two strokes behind at 236 (76, 83, 77).
Issa, whose scores were 81, 80, 81 (242), said the exam situation was difficult.
“The layout of the course was very difficult to set the scene: where to put the pins, where to put the tee boxes, they made the course as difficult as possible to give us kids a challenge, and the course The wind and the grass and bunker conditions weren’t the best, so obviously we couldn’t predict where the ball would go at any given time, the speed of the green, etc., so take that into account. There was a need. Analyze your score and consider before analyzing your weekend. ”
Another female contestant in the under-18 girls category was Anushka Khatri. She scored her 107, 99, and 94 points, giving her a total of 300 points over the three days.
Results for other age groups were as follows: 15 Years and U Boys – Kemari Morris – 256 (89, 81, 86), Davion Hogan 263 (85, 94, 84), Cameron Coe 273 ( 92, 92, 89). 13 Years and U Boys – Shasa Redlefsen 245 (83, 82, 80), 13 Years and U Girls – Alessandra Coe 266 (92, 88, 86).
The announced teams will be diligently prepared by coach Jonathan Newnham, himself a successful junior golfer, and coach Jason Lopez, who has led several junior teams to the CAJGC.
Newnham was satisfied with what he saw at trial. “I think it was good this week as everyone showed enough good signs and we have a few months to prepare. I’m excited for this group because it’s clear we’ll know the course well by the time the champions arrive. “I think it’s fair to say that.” There’s a chance to do well individually in most, if not all categories, and if you do well individually, it bodes well for the team championship. ”
Lopez, on the other hand, was satisfied with the composition of the squad at the trials. “We have a lot of great players and players coming in. A lot of young players, exciting players, guys who are obviously developing, and guys like Trey (Williams) who have been around for a while. “Overall, I think we’re a great team.”I think the kids performed well. It was always good to see the kids tested as there was no wind today, but we know it can get very windy around championship time in July. It was great to be able to recreate that situation. I think the children responded very well. ”
According to junior golf convener Alison Reed, the trials are “almost like a trial run for the real thing, because this is the course they will be playing at the event and each of them is trying to make the team. It’s a high-pressure condition.”So it’s like a mini-tournament and there’s the same amount of pressure on them. ”
