The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Bahamas Golf Federation stages its 2016 Junior National Championships at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island next weekend, Inecia Rolle, Xavier Robinson, Tynesha Tynes, Benjamin Knowles and Ashley Michel will be out to defend their titles in the various age groups.

Alena Hutchinson, director of the junior development programme, noted that they intend to have golfers from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Florida participating in the two-day event, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 12-13.

“We are going to have a strong showing in the boys’ 16-18 category as well as the boys’ 11-13 category because we have a strong field for the 36-hole medal play,” Hutchinson said. “We have juniors who presently reside in Florida coming over and we have some juniors from Grand Bahama coming over as well, so I’m looking forward to a very competitive tournament.

During the nationals, Inecia Rolle, 17, will be out to defend her junior girls’ title, while Xavier Robinson, 15, will defend the junior boys 14-15 title, Tynesha Tynes, 15, the junior girls 14-15 title, Benjamin Knowles, 11, the junior boys 11-13 title and Ashley Michel, 13, the junior girls 11-13 title.

Hutchinson, who has been at the helm of the junior programme for the past three years, said this is definitely the biggest field of competitors that have participated and it only shows the direction that the sport is heading in.

“The juniors will not necessarily be competing for bragging rights, but to show that there is a lot of talent out there in junior golf and it’s re-surging,” she said. “So it’s going to be very exciting to see exactly how the golfers perform.”

At the end of the nationals, a selection committee will take in consideration their performances as they look at formulating the national team that will travel this summer.

“It’s for the golfers to go out there and let us see how they deal with the course play, how they adapt when something goes wrong and how they carry themselves,” Hutchinson said. “So we are looking forward to them coming out and performing at their best.”

When the team is selected, Hutchinson said they will take in consideration the golfers’ handicap and their potential.

“When we go away, it’s more about exposure. We do want to win, but we want to see the junior golfers improve as well,” she said.

The nationals, which will cost around $30,000 to host, is sponsored by Odyssey Aviation. But companies such as Accounting Solutions Group Limited, Centreville Foodstore, Marcos Pizza, Dairy Queen and Jay Fitness are all making a contribution.

Huchinson noted that they are still seeking the support from corporate Bahamas and is advising those interested to contact her at the BGF Driving Range or email bgfjuniorgolf@gmail.com for more details.