William Knibbs produced a tournament-winning round on Sunday’s final day of the two-day Jamaica Golf Association Emancipendence Golf Classic at the Caymanas Golf Club in St. Catherine on the weekend.
In doing so, he dethroned Sean Morris to win his second tournament since competitions resumed after the COVID-19 lockdown earlier in the year.
Knibbs, who was recently crowned Jamaica’s national amateur golf champion, overcame a double-bogey on the final hole to shoot a two-over-par 74 for a combined score of 151.
The hole was a nightmare for Knibbs all weekend as he shot a triple bogey on Saturday. He was seven over par for the tournament.
“I feel good about winning the tournament. A win is always a nice feeling,” Knibbs said.
“The conditions probably were not very much different yesterday (Saturday) compared to today, may have been slightly less windy but overall I managed the conditions better.”
He now looks forward to the next JGA event and especially the “Jamaican Open is in December from what I gather so that should be nice. It should be a strong field there.”
Knibbs revealed that playing under the threat of the pandemic has been a challenge.
“It’s more precautionary measures with regards to touching the flagsticks and stuff like that,” he said, “everyone is just being careful with regards to cross-contaminating where possible.”
Dr. Mark Newnham was three strokes behind with a final score of 154 over the two days after a 76 on the final day to follow up his 78 on Saturday.
Dethroned champion Sean Morris, who went into the tournament with high expectations, found it rough going over the two days.
He finished third overall having shot a seven-over par 79 on Sunday an improvement over his nine-over par 81 on Saturday.
His day two scorecard showed 10 bogeys and three birdies that saw him finish nine shots behind the winner.
“I came here to the golf course today about four or five shots back and decided I would look and see what was happening on the front nine for me,” he said.
“I just figured that I was not as sharp and as tournament-ready as I would like to be. I played the first nine holes three over par and really struggled to get the ball close to the hole. It was like that for the rest of the day and I figured that if you are a little off and your timing is a little off and your chipping is a little off and your putting is not as defined, you are going to end up with shots a couple over.
“My worst score today should have been 75. I missed some easy puts. I just felt like I was in a participation mode rather than a competitive mode so I just chalked it up to just enjoying the day and finishing the tournament. I was not tournament sharp this week. I haven’t played a lot since the injured finger so I just got to wait, my turn will come.”
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Aman Dhiman ended joint fifth with his father Vikram Dhiman, after shooting 87 and 83.
The Men Super Senior 0-12 handicap section went to former JGA president Wayne Chai Chong, who shot 76 on Sunday for a two-day total of 149.
He was followed by Robert Chin on 151 (77, 74) and Mike Bradford 160 (79, 81) to round out the top three.
The Men & Men Senior 7-12 handicap was topped by Shamar Wilson 167 (82, 85) while Richard White 176 (93, 83) and Barry Eligon 182 (93m 89) copped the second and third spots respectively.
The golfers in the Men & Men Senior 13 – 24 handicap were Aubyn Ferguson 194 (11, 83) and Delroy Anderson 208 (111, 97).
The three ladies who completed the classic were Jennifer Mendes 183 (93, 90), Alison Reid 185 (98, 87) and Diane Hudson 191 (99, 92).
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Jamaica sports soon to resume says Prime Minister Holness
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that more local sports could soon resume on the island, after a series of meetings that prompted a change of heart from the government.
So far, in the wake of the pandemic, only a series of selected sports have resumed with horse racing and selected track meets listed among them. In the main, however, the majority of sports have remained shuttered since around last May, as part of efforts to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Among the more popular sports yet to resume are the National Premier League and the majority of high school competitions, which encompasses popular competitions like the Manning and daCosta Cups. Holness, however, believes that while things will not necessarily return to normal, there is now a very likely way forward.
“Prior to now, the policy was not to allow sporting events,” Holness told parliament on Tuesday.
“We contemplated this over two days. We had our COVID meeting on Friday and again on Monday and the decision is that sporting events can be allowed under conditions,” he added.
“The minister of local government, the minister of sports, the minister of public health will in due course explain what these details are.”
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Ministry of Health and Wellness have been locked in negotiations for weeks regarding the return of the premier league.
MILO Western Relays 2021 cancelled over Covid-19 fears - organisers
The 43rd staging of the MILO Western Relays that had been scheduled for Saturday, February 13, has been cancelled, organizers said citing the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
100m hurdler Williams to make debut at American Track League
2015 World 100m hurdles gold medallist, Danielle Williams, is expected to open her season in the United States, at the American Track League Indoor Series, next month.
The upcoming appearance will be the first for the 28-year-old sprinter since she pulled the plug on her 2020 season, in May, when the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the international track and field schedule.
The American Track League, which is part of the World Athletics Silver Tour, gives professional athletes an opportunity to return to competition as preparations begin for an Olympic year.
The meet, which is staged in four-parts, ran off in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sunday. 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the 110m hurdles, Omar McLeod, who raced in the 60 metres, was one of several Jamaicans who took part on the opening weekend. The list also included the likes of Tyquendo Tracey, Senoj-Jay Givans, and Christopher Taylor. The meet will continue with the next three installments on January 31st, February 7th, and February 14th.
Williams, the 2019 Diamond League champion, is based in South Carolina in the USA where she trains with coach Lennox Graham at Clemson University.
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