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Bigger field expected for Jamaica Open 2022

Published:Sunday | October 30, 2022 | 12:12 AMLennox Aldred - Gleaner Writer
Jamaican professional golfer, Orville Christie (second left), holds aloft the Jamaica Open trophy along with defending amateur champion Justin Burrowes. Pictured from left alongside the golfers are Jamaica Golf Association vice-president, Dr Mark Newnham;
Lennox Aldred
Jamaican professional golfer, Orville Christie (second left), holds aloft the Jamaica Open trophy along with defending amateur champion Justin Burrowes. Pictured from left alongside the golfers are Jamaica Golf Association vice-president, Dr Mark Newnham; former JGA President Peter Chin; Dave Dixon, senior vice-president of sales and services at Barita Investments; and Elon Parkinson, head of communications and government relations, Digicel Group.

THE PREMIER golfing event on the island, the Jamaica Open, continues to get bigger and bigger as this year’s staging, which will run from November 12 to 15, is anticipated to have record participation, according to organisers from the Jamaica Golf Association.

Last year’s 54-hole event, held at the par-72 Tryall Golf Club, saw some 65 overseas professional golfers taking part, and this year, with still two weeks to go before the 55th edition, already 65 overseas entrants have registered to take part.

Among those overseas golfers are defending champion Michael Maguire from the United States as well as 2019 champion Patrick Cov,er also of the US, and Korn Ferry Tour pro, Evan Harmeling, who won the 2019 BMW Jamaica Classic in Montego Bay.

Tournament Director Teddy Richards says the organisers are already putting things in place to accommodate the large field.

“We have 65 overseas pros right now and we are still a couple of weeks away from the event, so we are looking at a field of a minimum of 100 players, including around 10 local pros and 10 amateur players this year,” said Richards.

With the stacked field, the organisers are hoping for an earlier start time to accommodate the field completing the course over the three days of competition.

“What we might have to do this year is to have an earlier start time, let’s say 7 a.m. rather than the usual 7:30 a.m. start because this time of year the light fades quicker, but all in all we are ready to deliver an excellent tournament from an organisational standpoint,” added Richards.

Among those who will be looking to parade their skills are local professional Orville Christie and defending amateur champion Justin Burrowes.

GOING ALL OUT

Christie will be going all out to better his 15th-place overall finish last year.

“This year my plan is to stay calm and not be too aggressive, too early. The key to doing well in this tournament is to maintain your position and stay with the leaderboard,” said Christie.

Burrowes is eagerly anticipating another Jamaica Open event and says he also wants to be up there with the big boys.

“Everything has been going pretty well and right now it’s all about getting everything in check, including things off the golf course. In order to compete with some of these guys, who are some of the top players on the circuit, you have to have everything in check,” said Burrowes.

The 2022 edition of the Jamaica Open will see late professional golfer Seymour Rose being honoured. Rose won the Jamaica Open three times in 1977, 1982 and 1987.