PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The RBC Royal Bank 55th Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC 2011) will tee off on 1st August at the Millennium Lakes Golf Club in Trinidad, with Jamaican golfers adding reggae rhythm to the Caribbean’s premier golfing event.
The Jamaica national team is one of nine in the region contesting the CAGC, which is being played for the first time at Millenium Lakes’ par 71 championship layout.
Jamaica national team manager, Teddy Richards (“Dr. Grain”), a calm but fiercely competitive individual with tremendous golfing experience will assist team members as they make their way through the competitive rounds. Bringing their “reggae rhythm” to the championships are:
• Keith Stein, whose almost flawless play during the National Trials is testimony of his natural, smooth swing and quiet demeanour – Ramon Baez team
• Sean Morris, who enjoyed super play during the National Trials – Ramon Baez team
• Robert “Bobby” Chin, the sole lefty in the Jamaican line-up; his experience in the better-ball format will be a great asset to the team – Francis & Steele-Perkins team
• Gregory Chong; this rookie is expected to gel very well with his partner in the Men’s Over 35 category in the better-ball format – Francis Steele-Perkins team
• Dennis Atkinson, currently the best super senior golfer in Jamaica. He is no stranger to the CAGC team having competed for the Hoerman Cup, Francis & Steele-Perkins and Higgs & Higgs trophies
• Fred Sutherland, who possesses the ability to overcome obstacles and is constantly in contention, making him an asset to the Higgs & Higgs team.
The Ladies’ team vying for the George Teale trophy boasts two out of three extremely experienced golfers in Jodie Munn-Barrow and Leiza Munn-Blakely:
• Munn-Barrow is one of the top golfers on the Jamaican greens. She is no stranger to the CAGC tournament having competed in fifteen tournaments since 1991. Her experience will be an asset to the team.
• Munn-Blakely made her last appearance in the CAGC in 2007. She returns to the tournament this year, bringing tremendous experience and a strong-willed attitude, making her a fierce competitor on the golf course.
• Michelle Gabay makes her second appearance in the national side. Her dedication and intense work ethic have already paid off in tremendous improvements in her game over the last year.
The 5-man squad seeking to covet the prestigious Hoerman Cup, the ultimate in prizes in the CAGC 2011, comprises:
• Wesley Brown, a former national junior representative, making his second appearance on the Hoerman Cup team
• Matthew Smith, a recent graduate of Mercer University in Georgia, whose experience in the college circuit will augur well in the CAGC 2011 for Jamaica
• Fabian Campbell, Jamaica’s current National Amateur Champion, who possesses a smooth swing
• Radcliff Knibbs, the elder statesman of the Hoerman Cup side and 2010 National Amateur Champion
• Johnathan Newnham, Captain of Jamaica’s national junior golf team
Newnham is undoubtedly the strongest of Jamaica’s young players. He continues to dominate Jamaica’s golf scene while managing to balance his studies at secondary school. He performed well at his three showings in the CAGC and shows a maturity far exceeding his tender age.
The RBC Royal Bank 55th Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships highlights the individual skills of golfers in teamplay in six categories:
• Men’s Open Competition (Hoerman Cup)
• Men Over 60 Years (Higgs & Higgs Trophy)
• Men Over 50 Years (Francis & Steele-Perkins Trophy)
• Men Over 35 Years (Ramon Baez Trophy)
• Ladies’ Open Competition (George Teale Trophy)
• Overall Team Championship (Arthur Zaide Trophy)
At the launch of the CAGC 2011 two weeks ago, Suresh Sookoo, Chief Executive Officer Caribbean Banking, RBC, stated in his address “…RBC Royal Bank sees the sponsorship of this regional tournament, the Caribbean’s largest annual golf event, as an ideal visibility opportunity for RBC Royal Bank, as we strive to raise awareness of our brand across the Caribbean”.
Other teams from around the region competing for regional supremacy include The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and The Cayman Islands. In sharing plans for the event, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Golf Association, Robert Costelloe, was effusive in his praise for its Title Sponsor: “We are quite pleased that RBC Royal Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the region, has agreed to assume the role of Title Sponsor for the CAGC 2011; they, have brought significant resources to the successful management and hosting of the event,” he said.
The tournament concludes on August 6th.
