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Lopez finds form to lead JGA Junior trials

Published:Sunday | March 19, 2023 | 1:37 AMLennox Aldred - Gleaner Writer
Rocco Lopez plays one of his booming tee shots on the way to winning the JGA Junior Under-18 trials held recently at the Caymanas Golf Course.
Lennox Aldred
Rocco Lopez plays one of his booming tee shots on the way to winning the JGA Junior Under-18 trials held recently at the Caymanas Golf Course.

FOLLOWING A two-month winter break, US-based Rocco Lopez found his touch at the Caymanas Golf course to secure the boys’ 18-and-under title at the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) junior national trials which culminated recently.

Lopez’s three-over-par total of 219 was 10 strokes better than second-placed Aman Dhiman, who shot a 13-over-par 229 over the three rounds of competition.

Ryan Lue rounded out the top three following his 15-over-par 231 in the eight-man field.

Lopez, who is expected to lead Jamaica’s charge in his final year at the Caribbean Junior Championships in the Cayman Islands, opened his round with one birdie and two bogeys, before rattling in five of the former, two of the latter and a triple bogey in round two.

The third and final round saw the eight-time national junior representative carding four birdies and four bogeys in what was described as tough conditions at the Caymanas course.

“The course was playing tough over the three days with the dryness and the heavy wind factoring. All in all, I am happy with how I played having taken a break for the last two months,” said Lopez.

With 2023 being his final year as a junior, Lopez says he will be looking to upstage category favourite Kelvin Hernandez of Puerto Rico and bow out as champion.

WORKING HARD

“I am definitely looking forward to the championship and I am excited to battle with Kelvin. If I am to be Caribbean champion, more than likely I will have to beat him. I just have to keep working hard and just don’t get angry at myself and I think I have a good chance.”

Head of the JGA Junior golf programme, Alison Reid, says the final selections for the under-18 boys will be conducted by a five-member panel with the trials for the remaining age groups set for next weekend.

“The U18 boys’ trials were very competitive with lots of close back-and-forth scoring and improvements from the players. We should have a strong team in that category this year and we will be having our trials for U18 girls, U15 boys and girls and the U13 equivalent over three days, March 24 to 26, here at Caymanas.”