The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RICHARD Gibson Jr, taking advantage of the home surface where he works, put the finishing touches on his four days of intense competition Saturday to regain the men’s title at the Royal Blue Golf Club, Baha Mar.

Gibson Jr, who last held the title in 2011, was crowned the champion of the Bahamas Golf Federation’s National Amateur Championships and was joined by collegian Inecia Rolle - the ladies’ winner.

The four-day tournament, organised by Fidelity Bank and Sands Beer, began Wednesday at Lyford Cay, continued Thursday at Ocean Club, Paradise Island and Albany on Friday.

The BGF used the championship as a trial for its team expected to represent the Bahamas at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships in the Dominican Republic July 30 to August 5.

Gibson Jr posted a total of 295 as he held off Oren Butler, who ended up as the runner-up with 303. By virtue of his victory, Gibson Jr was the first player selected to the CAGC team.

“It feels okay, but I know there were at least eight other guys who didn’t show up to participate, including the defending champion DeVaughn Robinson,” Gibson Jr said. “But it feels good to win.”

As an employee at the newest resort on the island, Gibson said he knew the course, so shooting a 74 on the final day was icing on the cake for his own celebrations. He also won the President’s Cup title over George Swann.

“I work here so I guess this course was good but I will take Albany because last year I didn’t have a good round there, but this year I shot even par so I feel good about that,” said Gibson Jr when asked which course he enjoyed the most.

The 25-year-old, who improved on his fifth place finish last year when he also made the CAGC team for the men’s regular division, said the competition was still good despite not having all of the top golfers participating.

“We were missing players, but we still had a good crowd,” he said. “This course can still get up and bite you. But once you place your shots in the right areas, you could probably go low on it.

“I have to work on a lot of stuff to be honest. I definitely need to work on driving the ball a lot better. It kills me to actually be further back, but sometimes it works out. I have a nice short game so it makes up when I fall short coming off the tee.”

In a remarkable comeback, Butler made his return to the local scene after a two-year hiatus and the 32-year-old Ministry of Tourism; employee and former national champion was awarded the runner-up title.

“It wasn’t that bad ball striking wise. The first two days it was rough mainly because the conditions on the golf courses were terrible. But I hit ball pretty good. I just sort of lost focus going into today and wasn’t able to make the difference,” Butler said.

“There are no complaints on the last two courses, especially this one. I hit the ball pretty good, but I lost focus coming into the backside and I wasn’t able to capitalize on the opportunities when I should have.”

Butler, who only started playing again in March, said he’s going to keep working at it because his goal is to be able to perform much better than he did here at the CAGC.

“Richard played well this week. I tip my hat off to him. I feel very proud of him,” said Butler of the challenge he got from Gibson Jr. “I need to work on staying focus a little longer and improve my short game and I will be okay.”

Veteran Peter McIntosh was crowned the Mid-Amateur champion for competitors between the age of 35-49 and the senior champion for those 50-59. He shot 321 to beat out Simon Fielder in the mid-amateur and Horace Miller, who posted a 328 in the seniors.

The Super Seniors (age 60+) was won by Oswald Moore with 340, holding of runner-up Raymond Gibson, who shot a 346.

“There was no comparison. They reminded me of me when I was their age,” said McIntosh in playing in the foursome with some of the younger golfers. “They hit the ball well and they have the all-around game.”

McIntosh, now 50, admitted that he just need to play more.

“My performance was a lack of tournaments. I haven’t been getting out in a long time,” he stressed. “I’m busy at work. Most of golf right now is tournaments. I’m stuck at work and can’t get out.”

I enjoyed all of them. I believe the conditions could have been a lot better on the first two courses we played at Lyford Cay and Ocean Club, but they are all in great shape to me. I wasn’t frustrated with the conditions. I believe you got hurt by one or two shots here and there, but it’s golf. You have to play what the course gives you.

Rolle emerged as the female champion with her total of 331. Nyah Singh followed her in the regular division with 445.

However, Adriane Von Eckardstain, who played against Rolle in their pairing during the tournament, had a 344 to win the senior division over Caroline Riberio, who was the runner-up with 406.

“It was a good tournament for me. Things could have gone a little worse, but I held my head up high,” Rolle said. “It was a good tournament for me.”

Rolle, 18, said he only helped to know that she enjoyed competing at Baha Mar as she closed out her competition on a high note.

“I love Baha Mar. This is a beautiful course,” she stressed. “It’s really pretty out there.”

I have to work on getting my mental game together.

“I can hit the ball, but it’s just me thinking about it too much. I just have to take my time and realize a little more. Instead of thinking about it, I just have to do it,” she added.

“The competition was stiff on some days. Adrianna had me running for my money on some days. It was good to have that type of competition back home, so I was very pleased to pull it off.”

Nyah Singh, the low net winner, was named the President’s Cup champion over Inecia Rolle.

“I felt I did good today, better than I did in the last few days. I broke the 100 mark today, so it was good,” said the youngest player entered in the tournament at age 14. “The competition was good too. Everybody came out and played.”

Singh said the experience gained from playing with your elders, can only get her better.

“So I feel like I’ve learnt a lot just being here and playing with and against some of them” she stated.

BGF president Glenn Archer said the tournament is one where were venturing into a different dimension.

“We are training some new people and introducing a new software that we were able to acquire,” he said. “The participation in the tournament remained the same.

“We were able to pick up a title sponsor in Fidelity, who are committed to doing it again for the new few years, so we see this as an anchor for the future of golf for the younger golfers. We have a bright future ahead for our golfers.”

By early June, Archer said they intent to name the CAGC team.