Young and strong

A STRONG 12-member squad representing Jamaica will take to the golf course in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the 65th Caribbean Amateur Championships, beginning today.

The squad, which is down to compete until August 5, is relatively young, with 11 of its members below the age of 30.

The youngest of the youthful-looking squad, captained by Justine Burrowes and Emily Mayne, is 15-year-old ryan Lue.

Lue, one of seven males down to compete, is joined in his youthfulness by Mattea Issa, who is also 15. Young Issa, who is making her second appearance, is one of five females down to compete.

Speaking about the relative youth of the squad, team manager Dr Mark Newnham told The Gleaner Jamaica was only now just catching up with normal standards of Junior golfing in the region.

“We are naturally catching up with Junior Golf in the region, because the best players in the region are from the junior programmes, and it’s a worldwide trend as well, certainly at the amateur level. The best amateur golfers throughout the world now, are juniors, so, in Jamaica, we are just catching up with that trend,” he said.

“So although they are young, we are talking about some super talented guys, to the point at which we are actually in with a really good chance,” said Newnham.

According to Newnham, the choice of captains was strategic.

“Emily Mayne, I think, is just going to blow her competition away and then our winner, Justin Burrowes, he has been playing for years. I think he also has a great chance of winning the overall tournament,” added Newnham.

Newnham went on to point out that the experience of Burrowes, Mayne and former national champion William Knibbs is something that should seep all the way though the camp.

“It’s super important. Golf, unlike many of the other sports is a game where you spend your whole life losing more than you win. I must also mention Owen Samuda. He’s our oldest player, he has played for Jamaica for umpteen years at various levels. Those two (Emily Mayne, Justin Burrowes) with their leadership and experience will take the youngsters home,” Newnham said.

Knibbs, for his part, wants to regain some of the form that saw him crowned national champion in 2020.

“I’ll probably need to replicate some of that form. We have a solid young core of players, so I think we can challenge for that championship. Everyone needs to play at a high level for all three days. I don’t place much emphasis on the individual aspect, it’s more like for the team. But I know if I take care of what I need to, then I’ll help the team,” said Knibbs.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com

Squad:

Males: Captain Justin Burrowes, Sebert Walker Jr, Ryan Lue, William Knibbs, Rocco Lopez, Owen Samuda.

Females: Captain Emily Mayne, Mattea Issa, Cameron Marsh, Winni Lau,

Reserves: Aman Dhiman, Eryn Blakely