The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE top junior golfers in the country vied for national title honours and the top spots in the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Junior Division.

The BGF showcased its young talent at the 2017 Bahamas Junior National Championships at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

Approximately 53 golfers participated in the event last weekend as the federation also seeks to set the tone for the junior national team programme.

Several new champions were crowned at the end of the tournament.

Xavier Robinson, Saketh Hedge, Javontae Pinder, Haylie Turnquest, Sophie Anand, Jayden Wright and Owen Pendlebury demonstrated that they are among the best junior golfers in the Bahamas.

The seven golfers emerged as the various divisional champions.

Robinson topped a division at the event once again and claimed the title in the boys U18.

He shot an opening round 81, followed by a 79 in round two. With a gross total of 160, he finished tied with Aharon Bastian who also shot rounds of 79 and 81.

Robinson was named the winner based on countback total. Reece Longwell finished third with a score of 166.

In the boys U15 division, Hedge dominated the field to win by a total of 36 strokes.

He shot 87 on day one and 86 on day two to lower his score to a gross total of 173.

Dominic Grieves was second with a score of 209.

In the boys U13 divison, Pinder was third on day one, but surged late to take the one stroke win in the division with a score of 168.

He shot 87 on day one, trailing Heathcliff Kane and Lexander Antoine who both shot 84. On day two, Pinder shot 81 for the win. Kane was second at 169.

Turnquest took the girls U18 with a score of 160 (81,79). Helena Noel was second at 169.

Anand outpaced the girls U13 division by 24 strokes. She shot rounds of 81 and 82. Tyesha Tynes was second at 187.

Jayden Wright won the 18 hole Open Division with a score of 106 while Own Pendlebury won the 12 hole Open Division with a score of 74.

Alena Hutcheson, chairperson of the BGF’s Junior Division, said the nationals gives the sport’s local community ample opportunity to assess the state of the game.

A total of 53 golfers contested the two-day event, which considered one of the most competitive tournaments to date and sets the stage for national team selection in the near future.

The tournament included golfers from New Providence, Grand Bahama, the Berry Islands and the United States.

The golfers competed in a 36-hole stroke play, a 178-hole division (nine holes per day) and a 12-hole division ( six holes per day).

Tournament sponsors included Odyssey Aviation, Ocean Club, Marco’s Pizza, The Trophy Case, Centreville Foodstore, Albany Resort Ltd., Accounting Solutions Ltd, Leander Brice Foundation and J Fitness.