The Tribune

TEN-year-olds Aidan Gorospe and Kaydence Yepa shot a team score of 74 to be the low round for the 2018 Bahamas First Junior Open.

And Riya Miller and partner A'Marie Smith won the 18-and-under division on her 15th birthday, according to a press release.

The Bahamas First Junior Open is the first scramble format in 2018 for The Front 9. This is the title event for Bahamas First Insurance, but the second event they are sponsoring for The Front 9 junior golf tour. They were also a co-sponsor for the Abaco Junior Golf Championships, their first event of the year.

"Thank you to Bahamas First Insurance for continuously supporting the growth of tournament golf for our young golfers," said the release.

In the scramble format, juniors must choose partners within their age division. After each player hits their shot, the best shot is chosen, and play continues from there. This process is repeated until the ball is holed out.

The low scorers of the tournament were Gorospe and Yepa, shooting an impressive score of 74, the low round by five shots.

"Aidan has been playing golf for approximately seven years, and partnered with Kaydence who has been playing golf for less than one year."

Other divisional winners included 8-year-olds Michael Knowles and Chemari Pratt, 12 and 13 year-olds Zion Taylor and Josiah Yepa, and 14 and 15 year-olds A'Marie Smith and Riya Miller.

"Riya Miller, on her 15th birthday, capturing a divisional win with her partner and best friend A'Marie Smith was very special. The kids joined in celebrating with Riya with a birthday song and tasty cupcakes.

"The participants raved about the prizes from Bahamas First being the best ever. They included towels and water cooler speakers. A total of 36 juniors participated, and this event is sure to have more for 2019.

The Flag

"Every event, we have tournament flags, which the kids sign. At the end of the event, the low scorer for the event takes home one of the flags, one flag is held for the event sponsor, and the final flag is retained by Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy and The Front 9.

Capturing the Event Flag with a score of 74 was Gorospe and Yepa.

"We will all be watching to see if our player with the lowest scoring average will be the winner of the most flags and our 2018 Player of the Year.

Our thanks goes out to:

• Bahamas First Insurance - our title sponsor for the event.

• Robbie Leming and the staff at the Ocean Club

• Parents and volunteers for making another event a huge success

The top two finishers in each division are:

8 & Under - Michael Knowles & Chemari Pratt (1st Place)

Kamaya Burnside & Daliah Hamilton-Knowles (2nd Place)

10 & Under - Aidan Gorospe & Kaydence Yepa (1st Place)

Rhan Miller & Alexander Knowles (2nd Place)

13 & Under

Zion Taylor & Josiah Yepa (1st Place)

Tyesha Tynes & Christopher Knowles (2nd Place)

18 & Under

A'Marie Smith & Riya Miller (1st Place)

Tynesha Tynes & Jessica Humphries (2nd Place)

• Check out the full results by downloading the app: The Front 9.

The next event is the Aliv little BIG and will be held at the Royal Blue Golf Club on August 26. This is a scramble event for adults (BIGs) and juniors (littles). If you are an adult and interested in playing, but don't have a 'little' we will pair you with one of our awesome juniors.

If you have a junior golfer between the ages of six and 18 and they are interested in playing our events, please let them contact us through the app or send an email to info@fourteenclubsgolfacademy.com.

The Front 9 is dedicated to ensuring that our junior golfers have a full tournament schedule and other opportunities to succeed in the first half of their golf lives. The tour has events being played at all courses in The Bahamas including, Abaco, Freeport, Exuma, and Nassau.

FOLLOW AND

SUPPORT

THE TOUR

You can follow the juniors in the following ways:

1. Download "The Front 9" app on your Apple or Android device.

2. Fourteenclubsgolfacademy.com website under the events tab.

3. Bahamasgolf.org website under their Junior Golf tab.

4. Check out bluegolf.com and type in the search bar "The Front 9."

• If you are interested in volunteering as a scoring marshal, please contact Coach G at 828-4653.