We'll make home advantage count - Burrowes

One of Jamaica's main hopes in the under-18 category of the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships, which runs from tomorrow to Friday, at the Caymanas Golf Club in St Catherine, will be 2018 national junior champion Justin Burrowes.

Burrowes, also junior age group category champion in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, believes the team is physically and technically prepared but needs to be on its mental game to win its first regional junior title. He believes home advantage will be critical if they are to go on to cop the title.

"We have been preparing by putting in hours every single day. We train twice a week and focus on our short game, and I feel that the team has a very good chance.

"This is the best I have seen us prepare. We are best prepared this year compared to other years. I know that I am ready (physically), and it's just to be mentally ready, focused and stick to my game plan," he told The Gleaner at the launch of the tournament recently.

HOME ADVANTAGE

"I think it (home turf) will play a huge role in the team's winning. It's everyone's (on the team) home ground because we all play at Caymanas so many times. It is not an easy course. It's very challenging with the wind and everything. But it definitely gives us an advantage over everybody because there will be different little things that we know that players from the other country won't know," he added.

Burrowes said that he has a good chance to make what he describes as a big contribution to the team.

"I know my competition, I have been playing with them for over six years. I check their scores, I keep in contact with them, so I know how they are doing. It is not going to be easy, but the hard work that I have put gives me a better chance to do well," he said.

He also heads into the tournament with a lot of optimism.

"We practised a lot, put in a lot of time, a lot of hard work, and I just feel it will pay off this year. Puerto Rico always put up a good team, they have won the last few years. Dominica Republic and Trinidad are good. But all of the teams are good, and we definitely have a good chance," he added.