The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE top juniors golfers in the country are prepared to take to the course as the Bahamas Golf Federation showcases its young talent.

The BGF is scheduled to host the 2016 Bahamas Junior National Championships at the Ocean Club Golf Course March 12-13.

Approximately 40 golfers are expected to participate in the event as the federation also seeks to set the tone for the junior national team programme.

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

“This is a great event open to all golfers. We know a lot of our elite golfers will be playing. They will be playing 36 holes over two days and we will really see how their games are progressing,” she said.

“This is a great event for us and it gives us an opportunity to also look forward to this summer when we have a team travelling to Jamaica and rep the country. Junior golf is looking very good, we have 10-15 very talented junior golfers in the programme and by that I mean they are capable of shooting 85 or below so junior golf is in a great place right now.”

The event is open to all junior members of the BGF between 6-18 years of age with an entrance fee of $75.

Hutcheson said the nationals and the development of the junior programme are vital to the growth of the game. A game which she has benefitted from and is eager to give others the same opportunity.

“Junior golf has always been a passion for me. I grew up as a participant in the BGF’s junior golf programme. I was fortunate enough to play, go off to college, was able to compete and become members of numerous national teams for the Bahamas,” she said.

“So it’s great for me as an LPGA teaching professional to  come back and to give back to a sport that has given me so much. As it stands with junior golf, we have on the course training and it’s open to any golfer between the ages of 6-17 with an interest in the game.”

Event sponsors include Odyssey Aviation, Marco’s Pizza, Dairy Queen and Centerville Food Store.