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Argentinians dominate Travel Advisors golf tourney

Published:Wednesday | September 4, 2024 | 12:10 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
Gary Sadler (third left), executive vice president, sales and industry relations, Unique Vacations, pose for a selfie with members of the Argentinian Travel Advisors golf teams, which shared the title of Sandals 10th annual Latin American Travel Advisors G
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Gary Sadler (third left), executive vice president, sales and industry relations, Unique Vacations, pose for a selfie with members of the Argentinian Travel Advisors golf teams, which shared the title of Sandals 10th annual Latin American Travel Advisors Golf Tournament winners, tying on 68 after two days of golf at the Sandals Upton Golf and Country Club on Monday.

ARGENTINIAN TEAMS dominated the two-day Sandals Latin American Travel Advisors Golf Tournament at Sandals Upton Estate Golf and Country Club in St Mary, tying on 68 apiece for the 10th annual title in the four-man scramble, which ended on Monday.

Cesar Suarez, Pablo Wolinzky, Fernando Rafael Quintas, and Maria Luisa Rodriguez rallied from two strokes down (36-34) on Sunday’s first day to outplay countrymen Ulises Chiappe, Gaston Serra, Pablo Moioni, and Gabriel Miguens (32-34) on Monday, levelling the scores on 68.

Peru finished four stroke off the winners on 72 (39-33), Micaela Olcese, Diego Sorni, Daniza Almeyda and Cesar Ruiz outplayed by the Argentinians from the first day.

However, runners-up Peru’s towering Sorni took home the prize for Men’s Longest Drive on Monday’s awards night, salvaging a second trophy for his team.

Colombia’s Jhon Torres, Alfredo Guevara, Jose Rojas and Mauricio Fuerte (41-34) finished third on 75.

Despite fielding three teams, Brazil, runners-up to Uruguay at last year’s tournament, failed to make the top six in the 12-team match played among Sandals travel advisors from 11 Latin American countries.

Jonathan Newnham, former national player and director, golf operations, Sandals, Upton Estate, said it was his first time witnessing a tie in any of the three annual travel-advisors’ tournaments staged annually to promote Jamaica as a golfing destination.

Newnham said Brazilian teams finishing in the lower half of the tournament confirmed the popularity of the annual event among travel advisors, pointing out that each year brings new players to experience Jamaica as a golfing destination for them to sell the island to Latin American travellers.

Jake Coldiron, national manager, golf sales, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, echoed Newnham, pointing out that golfing groups have been booking visits to Jamaica.

“My job is to train the travel advisors to sell golf. For example, if you go to other destinations, visitors have to pay to experience golf. In Jamaica, golf is included in your stay so, yes, the golf tournaments do drive businesses to Jamaica,” he explained, adding that he is looking forward to the October 16-20 Baxter Canadian and October 26-30 United States Travel Advisors tournaments.

Meanwhile, the Sandals Foundation and nearby communities of Upton and Exchange in the hilly terrain of the St-Ann-St Mary region, continue to benefit from the annual tournaments.

Players from Sandals’ junior golfers programme helped to raise US$300 for the resorts’ foundation by participating in the Longest Drive contests on behalf of travel advisors, who continued their tradition of donating mountains of school supplies to students in time for the September back-to-school schedule.