Lobban Hoping To Represent Jamaica

As one of the 17 young golfers to enter this year's Jamaica Golf Association Juniors Series winners' enclosure, Tajay Lobban is looking to transition to the national junior team, while continuing his development in the sport.

In this, his third year of playing competitive golf, Lobban was recently crowned White Tees category winner with 345 points, while Luke Chin copped second with a score of 275, and Elric Li scored 150 for third.

"I haven't represented Jamaica in any age group as yet, but I am hoping to play for Jamaica this year," he told The Gleaner in a recent interview.

"Long term, I want to be a professional player. I am happy for the Sandals Foundation in Ocho Rios and coach Bill Williams for helping my development as a player so far," he said.

Playing in the boys' under-14-15 category, Lobban played all five of the recent Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) series with three first-place finishes, one second, and a third.

The 14-year-old also finished third in the fifth and final game of White Tees behind Luke Chin (77) and Kei Harris (81), scoring 87.

Buoyed by those performances, the Ocho-Rios-based teen wants to make his mark when the national team is selected in March.

"I am happy to put in the hard work and try to improve. I train once a week, and attend the Ocho Rios High School, but I need to work harder and get more improvement and better performances in," he added.

The teen, who has been playing the sport for three years, and who might be one of few golfers at his school, works alongside national men's representative Wesley Brown and talented junior Romaine Evans with coach Bill Williams at the Sandals Foundation.

Lobban said that he started the sport when his father asked him if he wanted to try it on a Saturday and said that he is really liking it now.