Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
MONTEGO BAY:
THE ISLAND'S top amateur golfers tee off tomorrow for places on the national squad for this year's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC), which Jamaica will host at the Cinnamon Hill course, Rose Hall in August.
The four-day Trials to choose the Hoerman Cup (men), George Teale Trophy (women), Ramon Baez Figueroa Trophy (men 35 and over), Francis and Steele Perkins Trophy (senior men) and Higgs and Higgs Trophy (super senior men) teams begin tomorrow at the picturesque north coast course and culminate on Easter Monday.
On Saturday and Sunday, the national hopefuls will be joined by other amateurs in the Jablum Cinnamon Hill Classic 36-hole tournament.
The list of Trial qualifiers and invitees includes some of the island's most promising young talent and a number of seasoned campaigners who are returning to the national fray after lengthy breaks.
TRYOUT
Leading the veteran brigade is former Hoerman Cup mainstay John Smith, who has been invited to try out for the senior team.
Another veteran, Jolly Johnson, will attempt to make the two-man super seniors team while Keith Stein, yet another blast from the past, returns to competitive golf after a near decade break to play for a place on the Baez Trophy two-man team. His partner should be United States-based Philip Prendergast.
The charge for the blue riband, five-man Hoerman Cup side will be led by Owen Samuda, Michael Scott, Gifford Wilmot and Radcliff Knibbs, but a cadre of young players including Damian Spencer, Fabian Campbell, Xavier Rose, Paul Thompson and Narada Black will make it a battle royal to make the team. There will be a four-way battle for the three berths on the women's team.
Veteran Maggie Lyn won't be in action until tomorrow but is virtually sure of a place on the squad along with former Caribbean champion Jodi Barrow. The final place will be decided between Michiko Asonuma and Leiza Blakeley.
Smith, if anywhere near his old form, would appear a lock for the senior team and his partner should come from Fred Sutherland, Lincoln Williams, Larry Bailey or Hopeton Marshall.
The super seniors could provide the most intriguing fight with Johnson, Dennis Atkinson, Maurice Foster and Herman McDonald boasting legitimate claims for the two-man side.
According to CAGC rules, the men's and women's competitors will have to walk the hilly course, while the senior players will be able to use carts.
First tee time tomorrow is noon.
