Patrick Cover of the USA shot a final-round 70 to win the 55th Jamaica Open Jamaica Open Golf Championship at the Tryall Golf Club in Sandy Bay, Hanover on Tuesday.
Cover, the 2019 champion, won by four strokes ahead of Josh Anderson (USA) and 2021 champion Michael Maguire (USA) placing third, a further one stroke back. He led on all three days with scores of 64, 69 and 70 for an overall score of 13 under par 203.
"It’s great. I love coming down to Jamaica. I love this golf course and I plan to come back for as long as I can,” he said. “It’s a great tournament."
Cover said despite being the leader on all three days, winning the tournament proved to be challenging. "MJ (Michael Maguire) played extremely well. He made it really hard on me,” Cover said.
“I think he was eight under through 11 holes and I wasn't playing as good as I was the last two days but I was playing okay, but he erased that lead really quickly even through the first five holes that lead was almost already gone so it got more interesting. I am just glad I finished it out. (I) played pretty well coming in."
Anderson, meanwhile, had scores of 72, 70 and 65 for an overall total of 207. Maguire shot 69, 71 and 68 (208) and was pleased with his play on the final day.
"I played great today. Starting seven shots back, you never really expected…you want to play to win but in the back of your mind you’re thinking like maybe I'll play for second but once I turned at seven under I knew I had a chance coming down the back nine. I had fun out there. It was good to be in contention so it was a good day."
Wesley Brown, who finished tied for 15th was the best placed Jamaican in the field after scores of 69, 77 and 73.
“Hugely disappointed. Knowing that I had it going, plus 13 on the back nine alone and that's not good playing professional golf. I gave away a lot,” he lamented.
Jamaica's Justin Burrowes topped the amateurs with scores of 76, 70 and 73 for 219. He ended the tournament with a birdie putt. "That was a really good putt. That was all my caddy honestly. He just gave me a really good line and he has been giving me really good lines all week and I just hit a really good putt with really good speed and it went in so I give all the credit to my caddy for that one,” he said. "Overall, I am pleased with my game. I feel like there is something to build on and its always an honour to win so happy about that too."
Jamaican's Zandre Roye and William Knibbs were second and third respectively with scores of 222 (76, 74,72) and 226 (78, 76, 72), respectively.
Dwayne Pearman (220), David Morland (226) and Danny King (230) were the top three among the Senior Professionals.
Owen Samuda - 237 (76, 84, 77), and Dr. Mark Newnhan - 242 (80, 81, 81) while Robert Sterling of Canada was third - 253 (84, 85, 84) were the top three amateurs.
Samuda and Munn-Barrow triumph at AMG Buccaneer Memorial Golf Tournament
Owen Samuda and Jodi Munn-Barrow emerged as champions of the AMG Buccaneer Memorial Golf Tournament, held at the Caymanas Golf Club in St. Catherine over the weekend. The annual event, one of Jamaica’s most prestigious golf tournaments, saw over 80 golfers competing despite challenges posed by recent weather conditions.
Samuda, who has been enjoying a stellar run of form, dominated the male category with back-to-back rounds of one-under-par 71, finishing with an impressive two-under-par 142. He won by a commanding 13-stroke margin, cementing his reputation as one of the country’s top golfers.
Reflecting on his victory, Samuda shared, “After the disappointment in the Jamaica Open last week, I realized that you can’t drive a car while looking behind you. I came into this tournament with a lot of confidence and positive thoughts. I played really well yesterday, and even better today, so I feel great about the win.”
Samuda’s performance marked the only under-par scores across the tournament. Former national champion Oshae Haye finished second with an 11-over-par 155, while Zandre Roye and Sean Morris tied for third at 14-over-par 158.
In the female category, Jamaica Golf Association President Jodi Munn-Barrow delivered her trademark consistency to claim the Ladies 0-6 title. Munn-Barrow posted scores of 75 on both days, totaling six-over-par 150 to secure her win by a comfortable 21 strokes over Michele McCreath, who finished at 171.
“It was a little more difficult this time,” Munn-Barrow admitted. “I haven’t been playing much because of my involvement with the Jamaica Open, so my game this weekend was scrappy. But I managed to get the ball around, and I’m happy with how I performed despite not being at my best.”
The tournament also featured numerous category winners, including Quentin Hugh-Sam and Philip Gooden, who scored 168 to win the Men & Men Senior 7-12 section. Other winners included Gifford Wilmott (Men & Men Senior 13-24) with a score of 157, and Diane Hudson, who topped the Ladies 13 and over category with a score of 184.
The event, held for the 29th year, is a tribute to seven of Jamaica’s past national golf representatives: Milton "Buddy" Josephs, Izette Rhone, Lenan "Lennie" Chin, John Fulford, Al Chong, Claude Stewart, and Mark Chin. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Lawes Street Trade Training Centre, with the goal of raising JMD$1 million annually.
Peter Chin, president of the Buccaneers Golf Club, praised the event’s resilience despite weather challenges. “This tournament has been running since the 1990s and is the oldest golf tournament outside of the Jamaica Open on the JGA calendar. The course was in great condition considering the rain over the past few weeks,” Chin said.
The AMG Buccaneer Memorial Golf Tournament was sponsored by AMG Packaging, with Scientific & Medical Supplies as an associate sponsor.
McIlroy honoured to be 'mentioned in same breath' as Ballesteros after matching Race to Dubai tally
Rory McIlroy says he is honoured to be "mentioned in the same breath" as Seve Ballesteros, after matching the Spaniard's haul of six Race to Dubai titles.
McIlroy secured the title for the third year running following his victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday.
The four-time major winner finished two shots clear of Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard to seal his third triumph in the event.
"Everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players," an emotional McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"The European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes from Seve. We had a changing room with Seve's shirt from [1995], the last Ryder Cup he played.
"He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I'm very proud."
"I've been through a lot this year, professionally, personally, and it feels like the fitting end to 2024," added McIlroy, who narrowly lost out on the US Open title to Bryson DeChambeau.
"I've persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn't able to get it done. I'm really pleased with the way I finished and, thankfully, I hung on after a tough day and got the job done."
McIlroy seals sixth Race to Dubai title with DP World Tour Championship triumph
Rory McIlroy secured his sixth Race to Dubai title with victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy finished at 15 under par and two shots clear of Rasmus Hojgaard, who he partnered during the final round, to seal glory at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The four-time major winner claimed his record-equalling third triumph in this event, matching Jon Rahm.
It is also his third successive Race to Dubai victory - and sixth overall to move level with Seve Ballesteros.
McIlroy was tied for the lead heading into the final day, and a run of four successive birdies gave him a three-shot advantage early on.
However, he hit bogeys on the ninth and 13th holes, allowing Hojgaard to draw level heading into the final four.
Nevertheless, McIlroy dug deep with a brilliant approach leading to a birdie on the 16th, which put him back in front.
And while Hojgaard could only par the final hole after narrowly missing a birdie putt, the Northern Irishman held his nerve with another birdie to seal his seventh tournament win in Dubai.
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