Carl Spence, Gleaner Writer
Jamaican Wesley Brown (right), who finished fourth in his category, is pictured with United States black radio host Tom Joyner (left), after he was presented with a book by Cheddy Parchment, general manager of Breezes Runaway Bay. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
JAMAICA'S JUNIOR Golfers returned to the island on Saturday after recording their best ever finish in the last six years at the Caribbean Golf Association's Junior Championships.
They placed fourth in this year's 19th staging of the competition which concluded on Friday at the Rio Mar Golf Club and Spa in Puerto Rico.
Jamaica's fourth place finish with 106.5 points was seven and a half points short of third place Bahamas with 114 points, Trinidad and Tobago was second with 126.5 points while hosts Puerto Rico captured the Hank James Championship Trophy, amassing 160 points.
Kemar Brown was the only Jamaican to medal at the event after his total par of 234 was good enough for him to capture the bronze medal in the boys' Under-18 category.
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Johnny Widmer of the Cayman Islands was first in the category with a total of 230 followed by Puerto Rico's Rafa Campos (231).
The other creditable showings of the 12 Jamaicans who participated came from Wesley Brown in the Under-15 age group, who finished fourth with 236 par total, while the winner Javier Godoy of the host country won in 10 fewer shots.
Jonathan Newnham, playing in the boys' Under-12 category, finished fifth in his category with a total of 251 while Tiffany Terrier's fifth place finish in the girls' Under-18 category was the best placing by a Jamaican girl in the tournament.
Team manager Larry Bailey thought the team's performance was an indication of the good work of the Jamaica Golf Association.
"I thought the team performed well; we've managed to finish fourth and I think it's the best we have done in the last six years," he said. "I think the performance is a result of the improvement that has been taking place in the junior programme and the association over the past couple of years," he added.
