Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
Golfer Fabian Campbell - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE JAMAICA Golf Association (JGA) has chosen a 22-member squad from which the national team will be selected for this year's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC), set for August at the Cinnamon Hill course near Montego Bay.
Final selection of the team will be made by June 30 after the players have undergone intense training for the annual event, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary here.
Fabian Campbell, Owen Samuda and Michael Scott are automatic selections for the men's elite Hoerman Cup team and the other two berths will be decided between Narada Black, Xavier Rose, Gifford Wilmot and Carl Bruce.
Jodi Barrow has been selected to the three-woman George Teale Trophy team and will most likely be joined by veteran Maggie Lyn. The final place should be an intriguing battle between Leiza Blakeley, youngster Tiffany Terrier and Diane Lang, with the 2005 USGA Senior Women's Amateur champion Lang having the edge if she is available.
Keith Stein will form half of the over-35s' Ramon Baez Figueroa tandem and will be joined by either his trials' playing partner Philip Prendergast, Wayne Chai Chong or Bruce who's getting two bites at national representation.
CAGC veteran John Smith will lead the Francis and Steele Perkins side and be partnered by either Lincoln Williams, Fred Sutherland or George Hugh. Hugh did not attend the national trials at Cinnamon Hill last month due to prior commitments but could be favoured over Williams and Sutherland.
The Higgs and Higgs super seniors team of Dennis Atkinson and Harris Johnson is set.
Meanwhile, Campbell, Barrow, Smith and Atkinson won their respective sections at the weekend's Kool 97FM Labour Day Classic at the SuperClubs Golf Club in Runaway Bay.
Constant Spirng-based Campbell carded a five-over 149 (75-74) to win the men's section by a stroke over Michael Rowe (75-75) and Samuda (75-75).
Barrow (72-72-150) held off the challenge of her sister, Blakeley (80-74-154), to win the ladies' event by four strokes while Smith (77-79-156) cruised to the seniors' crown by seven strokes over Sutherland (82-81-163). Williams (82-83-165) was a further two shots back.
Atkinson (76-77-153) outclassed the super senior field by a whopping 12 strokes over the two days. Second was Mike Bachstetz (85-80-165).
