Morris happy with defence of ‘special’ Negril title

SEAN MORRIS was true to form on Sunday at his old stomping ground of Negril Hills Golf Club, pairing with Romario Anglin to score 65, defending his Negril Charity Golf Tournament title won in 2022 playing alongside John Hayletts.

Already invested by way of learning the game at Negril Hills, two-time Caribbean senior champion Morris said participating in the tournament has always been “special” for him.

“I was accommodated by the Sinclair family. I started playing golf at age 30, right here, so I am an overachiever with all I have achieved in the game,” said the former national champion, who will enjoy three nights in a beachfront room at Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril as gross winner.

Grange Hill Primary School and Montego Bay Animal Haven will benefit from $1.5 million raised at the tournament, which, Morris said, was a “no-brainer” to support as charitable causes.

Morris and Anglin finished six shots clear of Radino Lobban and Giovanni Blair, who scored 71 in the scramble to take second-place gross, winning two nights each in a beachfront room at Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril.

“Seven-under was a little off the mark. The conditions were a bit challenging, but the staff did a great job to get the course to where it’s at after not being staged last year,” Morris noted, adding that he had been working with a younger generation of the Sinclair family to recruit and train staff as well as acquire modern grounds equipment.

“The younger generation of Sinclairs are looking at incorporating corporate, the hotels, bringing to the table how to get their guests here. This is the only golf course in Negril, a very popular spot, which can grow if we get high-end clients,” Morris pointed out.

Meanwhile, Flow Business remains a gold sponsor of the charity tournament, supporting the event for a 15th year from inception. Tropicars and CPJ also sponsored the tournament, which fielded 28 players.

“We are really excited to do this tournament,” said Flow Business director Andrew Fazio, who is also in charge of hospitality and business-process outsourcing.

“It is for such a good cause and makes perfect sense for Flow. It is in line with the things that we do, give back to the community,” Fazio added, noting that fellow sponsor Couples was “probably my first customer in Jamaica”.

“It is in our budget every year. It’s a soft spot for us. With our Jump programme, we offer free services and tablets so young people can learn. When it comes to children, that’s our soft spot,” Fazio emphasised.

Results

First-place net – Paul Chin and Stainton Baker - 66.25

First-place gross – Sean Morris, Romario Anglin – 65

Second-place net – Herbert Thompson, Andrew Spencer – 71.25

Second-place gross – Radino Lobban, Giovanni Blair - 71

Third-place net – Phillip Wilson, Hugh Logan - 71.5

Fourth-place net – Susan White, Noel Harty - 72.5

Closest to Pin #4 - Andrew Spencer

Closest to Pin #7 – Tommy Smith

Closest to Pin #10 – Sean Morris

Closest to Pin #16 – Sean Morris