Brown, Burrowes ready for Jamaica Open Golf
Published:Friday | December 11, 2020 | 12:13 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s top professional and amateur golfers Wesley Brown and Justin Burrowes are putting in their final preparations ahead of the start of the Jamaica Open at the Tryall Club in Montego Bay this weekend.
Brown is keen on improving on his ninth-place finish in the pro section last year while Burrowes will be gunning to defend his amateur title.
St Ann-based Brown, who regularly plies his trade on the NGA US Tour, says preparations have been going well leading up to the three-day event which tees off on Sunday.
“My expectation for the Jamaica Open this year is to win, dominate the field and win by a lot and keep the trophy here in Jamaica,” Brown said.
Last year, American Patrick Cover shot 12 under par over the three days to lift the title while Brown was 10 shots back, to finish as the highest-ranked Jamaican in the field of 70 professional golfers.
For Brown, the key to victory will be a simple execution, as he will be under heavy pressure from several overseas professionals who have PGA Tour experience.
“I have been playing really well and I have given myself some great opportunities in other tournaments so far this year,” he said. “For the Open, I don’t expect anything less of myself other than to go out and play the best golf I can play.”
Last year’s runner-up, American David Morland, who plays on the Canadian Pro Tour, is expected to challenge Brown.
World number 356-ranked Thomas Rosenmueller, who recently won two tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour, and Erik Barnes, who is ranked in the top 50 golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour, are also expected to challenge.
Locally, Sean Green, Raymond Brown, and Al Robinson have also been showing good form.
On the amateur side, Jamaican Justin Burrowes will be hoping to dominate the field, once again, to lift the title. He is, however, expected to face a stiffer challenge this year, with national champion William Knibbs and Sean Morris gunning for top honours.
For Burrowes, the key to defending his title will be execution on a Tryall course that can prove difficult.
“I try not to expect too much of myself and just go out and put the work in,” he said. “It is going to come down to execution. I want to just go out there and have some fun and have a good time. Winning would be lovely, but that can’t be done without good execution.”
Over 80 professional and amateur golfers will be on show at this year’s Jamaica Open.