Bahamas Playing To Win At RBC Royal Bank 55TH Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC 2011)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – When the Caribbean’s premier golfing event, the RBC Royal Bank 55th Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC 2011) tees off at the Millennium Lakes Golf Club, Trincity, Trinidad key to the Bahamas’ efforts will be Vernon Wells, a cornerstone of Bahamian golf.

Vernon’s amateur qualifications are second to none in the Caribbean. A five-time Bahamas National Amateur Open Champion, six-time Bahamas National Senior Open Champion, multiple Hoerman Cup, Francis & Steele-Perkins and Higgs & Higgs appearances confirm his credentials. He was on The Bahamas winning Hoerman Cup team in 1978 and The Bahamas Frank Francis & Steele-Perkins Cup winning team in 1999. He was the captain of the inaugural Caribbean Cup’s West Team which won over the East team captained by Trinidad’s Robert Grell in 2007.

Accompanying Vernon in his quest for victory for The Bahamas are team mates:

• Oswald Moore, is appearing on the Higgs & Higgs Cup for the second time. Teamed up with veteran Vernon Wells, Moore brings a fierce competitive spirit and a great putting stroke to the team that will have them challenging for the top spot in the Higgs & Higgs trophy category

• Charlie Butler travelled with the Bahamas Hoerman Cup Team in 2010 as an alternate. Inspired by the Championships he raised his game earning the final spot on this year’s team

• Benjamin Davis is a veteran Caribbean Golf Championship player at age 17. He played in eight Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships and this will be his third year on the Hoerman Cup Team. A11th grade student at IMG Academies, his ambition is to make it on the PGA Tour

• Devaughn Robinson: This year Devaughn will have played in four Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships and four Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship events. A second year Masters student at Texas Southern University, Devaughn serves as the Graduate Assistant for the University’s Golf Team. He is a solid performer – Hoerman Cup team

• Oren Butler is making his fifth appearance on the Hoerman Cup team. A long hitter, Oren was a member of the 2009 Caribbean Cup

• Richard Gibson: five appearances on the Bahamas Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship teams and making his fourth appearance on the Hoerman Cup Team should give Richard another opportunity to spark the Bahamian Hoerman Cup Team. Richard accomplished another milestone in his golf career by winning the Bahamas National Amateur Golf Championships in May 2011

• George Swann: with two Hoerman Cup appearances and an appearance on the Francis & Steele- Perkins Cup team last year, George is ready to improve The Bahamas’ second place finish last year and cop the Francis & Steele-Perkins trophy

• Paul Bowe is making his second appearance on the senior team vying for the Francis & Steel-Perkins trophy. With partner George Swann they finished in second place last year. This placing will be a major factor in their attempt to win in this division

• Chris Harris is making his 29th appearance on a Bahamas Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship team. He is a four-time Bahamas National Amateur Open Champion and has appeared on numerous World Cup Teams. He is also the Chairman of the Northern Division of the Bahamas Golf Federation and Captain of many Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship teams. Chris is again Captain of this year’s team and along with his partner Shane Gibson is looking forward to a win on his 6th Ramon Baez team

• Shane Gibson has made considerable contributions to golf in the Bahamas as well as to his community serving as the current Member of Parliament for the Golden Gates Constituency in Nassau. This is his.fourth appearance with partner Chris Harris. He is looking forward to again challenging for the top spot in the mid-amateur category. Shane managed and captained many Bahamas International Golf teams and is a former Bahamas National Amateur Open Champion
RBC Royal Bank has been named title sponsor of the event and Nathaniel Beneby Jr., President and Country Head, RBC Royal Bank, Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands shared his views on The Bahamas’ involvement “We are very pleased that the Bahamas is being represented by such an outstanding team and look forward to an impressive showing at this year’s championships”.

Defending teams in the tournament will have to rely on the individual skills of its players as they strive to cop trophies in six categories:

– Men’s Open Competition Hoerman Cup
– Men Over 50 Years Francis and Steele-Perkins Trophy
– Men Over 60 Years Higgs & Higgs Trophy
– Men Over 35 Years Ramon Baez Trophy
– Ladies’ Open Competition George Teale Trophy
– Overall Team Championship Arthur Zaide Trophy

against stiff competition from teams from around the region including: The Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the Turks and Caicos, Barbados, Jamaica.

Making certain that everyone knows their intent, the Bahamas Golf Association offered this advice to their competition: “Vernon has managed and captained many of The Bahamas CAGC teams, appeared on numerous World Amateur Golf Championship teams and is player/coach of this year’s Bahamas CAGC Team…be ready!”