The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Eva Hilton Primary and Windsor Academy are eager to defend their respective titles in the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Junior Association 2025 National School Golf Championships next month.

The championships, powered by Capital Union Bank, will be staged from March 10-14 at the BGF’s Driving Range. 

While the public primary schools will commence play on the first day, the private primary and home schools will compete on the second day with the top teams from both days and the next 10 individuals qualifying to play in the national primary championship on day three.

The final two days will be devoted to the high school divisions. “It’s awesome. It truly shows the growth,” said tournament director Georgette Rolle-Harris in responding the request of the high school players to two days of competition. “If I would were a player, I would want to play multiple days, especially if I wasn’t the one who didn’t win on the first day.”

Windsor School at Albany has been around from the inception, but coach Katie Roach, in thanking Rolle-Harris, the BGF and the Ministries for putting on such a prestigious event for the student-golfers, noted that they will be back to try and duplicate what was a historic performance last year.

“Last year was a very special year for us. We entered teams in all four divisions and we won all four,” said Roach, who was accompanied by three senior boys Kerrington Rolle, Camdyn Forbes and Christopher Calendar. “So it’s history in the making. Not sure when it will be done again, but we will keep hope and continue to try our best.” alive and we will keep trying again.

“Every year we know that the depth of the field is going to get bigger and there is a lot of talent in the schools and we have seen the growth and so we don’t take anything for granted. We always come in with the mind set to play the best golf and just to represent our school with pride.”

From the inception of the tournament, Eva Hilton had to prove that they can play and they have been successful in reigning supreme in the primary championships and coach Zindora Munnings dropped the gauntlet to their rivals as they seek to clinch their fifth straight.

“When we first began, it was like ‘golf, really?’ But being the reigning championships for four years straight, I would like to give a big shoutout to our players and to the parents because if it wasn’t for their commitment and involvement, we would not be here today,” said Munnings, who was accompanied by her assistant coach and a few members of their team.

“It depends on them to bring the students out to the practices, as well as taking them to the various clinics and tournaments. We were recently a part of a clinic that was hosted by the Great Bahamas Golf Classic and we were introduced to one of our Bahamian pro players Cameron Riley. It showed us that we can be just as important as these international players.”

One of the teams expected to challenge Eva Hilton for the title this year is Palmdale Primary. Coach Ashley Oembler said they are so expected to be make their presence felt.

“We’re tiny, but we’re mighty. We’re still there and we are here to try and give some competition to Eva Hilton,” said Oembler, who was in attendance with assistant coach Kiva Bridgewater and a few members of their golf team. “Thank you to coach Georgette (Rolle-Harris) and coach Fred (Taylor) for bringing this initiative on.

“It has gained the interest of a lot of kids at my school because they can see that its a new sport in the curriculum and everyone wants to be a part of it. The kids are always willing to learn and to be a part of it. We continue to build the programme rom the second to the sixth grade.”

Ministry of Education’s endorsement

As the minister of Education, Glenys Hanns-Martin said she’s always pleased to be a part of such progressive programmes, such as the national high school golf championships, which has now grown over the past five years to include more than 400 golfers from schools that also include Andros and Eleuthera.

“It has been one of those catalyst of change and positive growth and transformation within our systems of education,” Hanna-Martin said. “Sports education is an integral part of the curriculum and as athletic training and education are inter-related. We know that sports play a role in shaping individuals character and overall development.

“The sport of golf, which once only the selected few would have had the means to participate in, is now accessible to nearly 400 students in public and private schools nationally, with this year seeing the inclusion of students from Eleuthera and South Andros. This is what it is all about, equality and equity, accessed opportunity, bringing more diversity ands imparting not only the sport, but the very fabric of our society.”

Calling it a game changer as it leads to the adoption of strong leadership skills, as is evident by the display of the character of those who participate in the sport, Hanna-Martin said she could foresee golf reaching the level of swimming where it shapes and molds confident young leaders in our society.

She thanked the sponsors, especially Capital Union Bank, for partnering with the golfing community and the government to make waves nationally for the public schools as they intergrade with the private schools. She said she hope as they take it to the next level, that this will be the best year ever for the championships.

Ministry of Sports’ endorsement too

Representing the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Assistant Director of Sports, Kerry Baker it’s tee time to walk nature’s green and natural dreams and opportunities and goals.

“To the organizers of the tournament, you are not only developing healthy children, you are building mentally sound characteristics and leaders in our community. Today, we are not only developing the sport of golf, but also the spirit of camaraderie, perseverance and sportsmanship.”

Thrilled to see the enthusiasm in the young golfers who are ready to take the course and showcased their talent, Baker said he’s sure that they have put in the work and are here to be successful in the championships. He thanked all of those persons who made it possible for the golfers to be able to participate in the event and they wished them a successful, safe and injury-free championships.

BGF endorsement

Anthony Hinsey, the vice president of the BGF, was short and sweet to the point, indicating that they want to encourage everyone who is participating in the championships and he assured them that they are right behind them, leaving their support.

The birth of the tournament

Clara Storr, the Education Officer for the Primary Physical Education of the Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training, said she remembered the initial meeting with Frederick Taylor and Georgette Rolle-Harris of the Fourteenth Golf Club Academy to organizer the tournament.

“One thing I could have said, no one could have foresee where golf would have been now in our schools and in the lives of our student athletes,” Storr said. “In 2020, we launched the trained the teachers programme with our teachers and it was a renown success. Little did we know in March of that same year, we would have had Covid-19. “Golf was one of the few sports that persons could have participated in without the risk of their health. It was a safety caution.”

Storr, however, said the Covid-19 pandemic subsided, it gave birth to the national high school golf tournament.

“Many persons said it cannot be done, it shouldn’t be done. Why is it necessary to have golf within the public high schools?,” she asked. “Well, I can can say one thing. I have seen the transition of our students. I have seen the level of confidence when they go on the field. I’ve seen even in their deportment, how they carry themselves. Is a level of calmness when they walk out there and you can feel that they believe in themselves.”

In the initial stages, Storr said she spent many nights on the p[hone with an enthusiastic Rolle-Harris in trying to get the championship off the ground. She also thanked Dawn Knowles, the former Education Officer for Primary Schools at the Ministry, for her infinitive to help to get golf into the schools.

Rolle-Harris said the aim is to push golf to become the next sport to

Sponsors making their commitment

In an absent of a representative, Rolle-Harris read a letter of commitment from Capital Union Bank, the title sponsors.

“Capital Union Bank is honored to once again serve as the title sponsor of the National School Golf Championships, reaffirming our commitment to youth development and community enrichment,” Rolle-Harris read. “We are proud to support the continued growth of golf in The Bahamas and remain dedicated to initiatives that empower and inspire the next generation.

“These opportunities not only allow young athletes to showcase and refine their skills, but also open doors for furthering their education and personal growth. We look forward to an exciting championship and wish all participants the very best.”

A number of other sponsors, including Frederick Taylor, a junior national team coach as well, represented Lightbourn Trading; Sophia Richardson, the brand manager for Sunshine Snacks at Lightbourn Trading as well; Racardo Underwood, the Chief Financial Officer, represented JS Johnson and Francis Adderley, represented Fidelity Bank and a Police Reserve and Security, all threw their support behind the championships.