Christie best placed local golfer after first day of Jamaica Open
Published:Sunday | December 13, 2020 | 9:22 PMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer -
Jamaican golfer Orville Christie is the best-placed local as he is tied for 13th position after day one action of the three-day Jamaica Open at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover on Sunday.
Christie shot a four-over-par 76 to lie 10 shots behind the co-leaders Erik Barnes, of the USA, and David Morland, of Canada, who both registered rounds of six-under-par 66.
The Jamaican fired in three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine to make the turn at one-under-par. However, four bogeys on the back nine rounded out a difficult first day for the local professional.
Jamaica's Ricardo Perry, with a score of six-over-par 78, sees him lying in 19th position with compatriot Wesley Brown and Ian Facey a shot behind in 20th position after rounds of 79.
Barnes and Morland were in scintillating form, eating up the Tryall course with an accumulated nine birdies and three eagles between them.
Barnes took advantage of the front nine, rattling in three birdies and an eagle. He followed that up with two more birdies on the back nine for a clubhouse lead of six-under-par 66.
"I played nice in the practice rounds and I knew I could really take advantage of the first eight holes, which have three par fives,” Barnes said. “I did expect to shoot that score and I was even trying to go lower, but it's still a good round.”
Morland, who finished as runner up last year, also shot six-under-par, which included two eagles and a birdie on the front nine and three birdies on the back.
"I got off to a bit of a slow start but then I eagled number six and birdied number seven, and eagled eight, which was the turnaround for the day for me,” Morland said.
American Brad Adanomis was the only other golfer in red numbers, as his three-under-par 69 sees him lying in the third position.
National Champion William Knibbs and Sebert Walker Jr lead the pack in the amateur section after their four over par rounds of 76.
Knibbs had no birdies in his round, coupled with two bogeys and a double-bogey while Walker Jr had two birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey.
American Robert Owen is in third place after his six over par 78, while defending champion Justin Burrowes lies fourth after his seven over par 79.