The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Jordan Prince Williams’ Haley Hall and Windsor School’s Harry White, Zara Greaves and Hugo Johnston emerged as the opening day divisional leaders in the primary division of the Ministry of Education’s National Schools Golf Championships.

The week-long tournament got underway yesterday at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range. It continues today as the government primary schools are slated to tee off at 8:30am.

At the end of the day, tournament organiser Georgette Rolle-Harris, of Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, said the top five positions will be determined for Friday’s final.

Following that, the government junior and high schools will be in action on Wednesday, while the private junior and high school teams will compete on Thursday as they too determine who will advance to the finals on Friday.

Rolle-Harris revealed that more than 37 schools and over 247 golfers have registered to participate.

“The tournament got off to a great start today,” Rolle-Harris said. “We look forward to an even bigger turnout from the public primary schools and in the high schools for both the private and public schools.”

The tournament was officially opened by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis. Opposition leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) also attended yesterday’s session.

Amy Westmarland, a physical education teacher at Queen’s College, said they had six primary school students, who participated yesterday and they were all excited.

“We’re really happy to get them the opportunity to try something different,” she said.

“It’s nice that it’s for a different demographic of students. We are only starting out, but we’re excited to continue to build the programme and expose them to some new sports.”

Players from various schools were quite thrilled to be competing in an actual school tournament.

Sarala Stuart, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Windsor School, has been participating in the sport for about a year.

“It’s been good,” she said of her first day of competition. “I think I did good. I just have to work on my aim because the competition is good.”

Nikayla Butler, a 10-year-old fifth grader at Kingsway Academy, has spent at least six years in the sport, so she was more familiar with her environment. “I felt good out there,” she said. “The competition was good. I just have to work on how far my swing goes. The competition is good.”

Melissa Beukes, an 11-year-old fifth grader at Lyford Cay, had a lot of practice coming into the tournament as she worked out a little more this year. “I was really excited about playing today because this was my first golf tournament,” she said. “I feel I played well. I saw some really talented players from the different schools, but I just have to improve my putting.”

And Haley Hall, a nine-year-old fifth grader at Jordan Prince Williams High School, has been involved in the sport for the past three years and it is paying off.

“At first, I was nervous, but now I’m not,” she noted. “I haven’t played in a tournament in a while, but I just need to concentrate on my chipping. Hopefully I can get into the final and do well.”

Results of day one of the tournament are as follows:

Lower Primary Boys

1 - Hugo Johnston, Windsor School - 38 gross. 2 - Kai Bastian - St Thomas More - 45 gross. 3. Francisco Ortiz Von Bismarch - Lyford Cay International School - 46 gross. 4. Luis Ortiz Von Bismarch - Lyford Cay International School - 49 gross. 5. Lucas Strokes - Summit Academy - 50 gross.

Lower Primary Girls

Zara Greaves - Windsor School - 46 gross. 2. Alyssa Richards - St Thomas More - 47 gross. 3. Sarah Scheidecker - Nassau Christian Academy - 56 gross. 3. Alexandra Lefeber - Windsor School - 56 gross. 5. Payton McKenzie - Xv ire’s Lower School - 59 gross.

Upper Primary Boys

1. Harry White - Windsor School - 35 gross. 2. Patrick Mactaggart - Lyford Cay International School - 43 gross. 3. William West - Windsor School - 43 gross. 4. Jose Piazza - Lyford Cay International School - 45 gross. 4. Leo Bisterzo - Windsor School - 45 gross.

Upper Primary Girls

1. Haley Hall - Jordan Prince Williams - 42 gross. 2. Daliah Hamilton-Knowles - Queen’s College - 44 gross. 3. Liari Price - Queen’s College - 48 gross. 4. Emma Johnston - Windsor School - 49 gross. 5. Melissa Beukes - Lyford Cay International School - 50 gross.