The Tribune

THANKS to EFG Bank and other local sponsors, nine junior golfers from the Bahamas competed for the first time in the 11th Republic Bank Junior Open Championships that was held recently in Trinidad & Tobago.

The event was one of the largest in the Caribbean and fielded 93 players from various Caribbean countries. EFG Bank largely funded the trip, and has been a supporter of junior golf through Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy and The Front 9 Junior Golf Tour. The team competed at the hilly, but scenic St Andrews Course.

Representing the Bahamas were:

Girls 14-15 - Ashley Michel (3rd place), A’Marie Smith (4th place), Riya Miller (6th place), Tia Singh (8th place) and Nyah Singh (9th place)

Girls 11-13 - Kyndall Campbell (2nd place)

Girls 10 & Under - Chemari Pratt (1st place in two contests and 2nd in one contest)

Boys 11-13 - Zion Taylor (8th place) and Rhan Miller (9th place).

Check out the full results on the Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association website.

For Fourteen Clubs and The Front 9, the event was one for their players to get a taste of international competition. “Some of the juniors have been playing for a few years and are now beginning to compete in numerous events during the year,” said coach Georgette Rolle. “Out of the nine players, only two had played internationally before - Ashley Michel (15) and Kyndall Campbell (13).”

The tournament was played just before the Bahamas Junior Nationals and according to Rolle, was a great warm-up event. “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,” Rolle said.

“The tour has secured 20 plus events being played at all courses in the Bahamas including Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma and New Providence.”