Jamaica's top male and female finishers Rocco Lopez and Emily Mayne
Alison Reid has renewed calls for more females to consider participating in golf to help drive growth and, by extension, prolong Jamaica’s success in the sport on the regional stage.
Reid’s comments follow another credible showing by the country’s young prospects at the just-concluded 35th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships, where they secure two individual trophies courtesy of Emily Mayne and Rocco Lopez.
The Jamaican team which placed third overall with 116 points behind Puerto Rico (161 points), who took the coveted Hank James trophy, while Dominican Republic was second on 131 points.
Reid, who served as manager for the team stressed the need to increase the number of girls who play the sport going forward.
“Even though we are losing two players, we will still have a good 18 and under Boys section. The girls are where we are weak. It's hard to find girls and so that's where we really have to put our emphasis in,” Reid said.
Mayne, who was the team’s captain, brought home the second-place trophy in the 18 and under girls. She scored 14 over par 227 to end the tournament 15 shots behind group winner Holly McLean (212) of host country Cayman Islands.
Jamaica's other representative in the category, Mattea Issa, ended sixth, after posting 28 over par 241. Jamaica placed second in the group.
Mayne expressed pride at the team’s performance, especially due to the tough conditions they had to endure.
“The conditions we faced, it was very, very windy and of course we are used to some wind in Jamaica, but we really had to adapt to the wind. The First day was not so bad, but the second day and the third the wind really did pick up, so we had the whole 18 holes for both days in the wind,” Mayne explained.
"I went into the tournament trying not to put too much pressure on myself as I won last year but of course in the back of your head you are always going to put a bit of pressure on yourself. The girl, who won Holly, it was her home course, but I just try to stick to my game plan. The first day I had a rough start, probably just due to some nerves but then I brought it back on the second day and the last day,” she added.
Lopez, who entered the final day joint third with Aman Dhiman, finished with a one under par 70, to end three over par 216 in third place in the 18 and under boys’ section. He was one of just three players to post under par score during the championship.
Puerto Rico’s Kelvin Hernandez finished tops with a 10 under par 203, while Dhiman (227) and Ryan Lue (230), collected enough points to bag third place in the group.
“The scores weren't too bad, but I felt like I could have played a lot better. I felt like I wasn't hitting the ball that great. I like the greens, but I couldn't make puts and I didn't make all birdies, but I managed to scramble very well and that kept me around par each day,” said Lopez.
Meanwhile, the two 11-13 boys, Kemari Morris and Shasa Redlefsen were responsible for the third place in the group. Puerto Rico was the group winner.
The girls' 11-13 representatives, Alessandra Coe contributed the team's fourth place in the group won by The Bahamas, while the 15 & under girls, Samantha Azan and Anoushka Katri, also gave points to the group's fourth place finish. Puerto Rico won the category.
Aaron Ghosh and Davin Hogan closed the championship in sixth place in the 15 & under boys’ category, also won by Puerto Rico.
Rose wants Rahm to make himself eligible for Ryder Cup
Justin Rose has urged Jon Rahm to make sure he is eligible for the Ryder Cup next year.
The Spaniard, who plays on the LIV circuit, needs to play three events on the DP World Tour before the end of the season in November to be available for selection.
The Spanish Open looks to be the most likely solution for the two-time major winner, but he has not yet submitted an entry, which would need to be in by September 12.
If he fails to meet the requirements needed for his tour membership, Luke Donald will not be able to call on him, even for one of the wild card spots, as Europe look to defend their trophy at Bethpage next September.
Rose believes not having Rahm in the team would be a huge blow to Team Europe's chances in New York last year, but understands the Tour's need to enforce the regulations.
"No matter where the world rankings say he is or the golf that he is competing against, we know what a great player he is," Rose said, speaking after an event at Brocket Hall.
"My point is you want him on the team. There is a pathway for him to play the Ryder Cup if he wants it.
"I think that's all the DP World Tour can do, and they have their interests to protect, and I still think that it is a doable situation should the player want to choose to do it."
Cayman Islands, Anguilla open League C campaigns with victory; Bahamas, USVI play out 3-3 stalemate
Anguilla and Cayman Islands began their quest for promotion on a winning note as they blanked Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands (BVI) in contrasting manner in League C of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League (CNL) on Wednesday.
Anguilla’s 2-0 win over Turks and Caicos Islands represents an historic feat as it was their first-ever victory in the Concacaf Nations League, while Elijah Seymour's solitary goal in Cayman Islands’ 1-0 win over BVI also had a hint of history on it. His goal marked the 1,000th goal in the Concacaf Nations League’s five-year history.
With the wins, Anguilla and Cayman Islands assumed pole position in Groups B and C, respectively, while Group A remain evenly poised after the Bahamas and US Virgin Islands played out a 3-3 stalemate.
Anguilla vs. Turks and Caicos Islands
Germain Hughes (58th) opened the scoring for Anguilla at TCIFA National Stadium when he pounced on a loose ball and slotted home.
Lamar Carpenter (74th) notched the second when he drove home a left-footer from deep inside the 18-yard box.
US Virgin Islands vs. Bahamas
It was a closely contested affair at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Christiansted, as host US Virgin Islands fought hard for their come-from-behind stalemate.
Lesly St Fleur gave Bahamas a second-minute lead in a frantic start as he converted from the penalty spot.
US Virgin Islands were back on level terms in the 27th thanks to Naqwan Henry, who got on the end of Rakeem Joseph’s pass and slotted home.
However, Bahamas regained the lead in the 37th as Wood Julmis expertly headed home from Jordan Cheetham’s weighted cross.
Brandon Adderley added another in the 58th, with a close-range effort to put Bahamas 3-1 up.
But US Virgin Islands were in no mood to surrender the points and pulled one back through Joseph in the 77th, before Gabriel Catone-Highfield headed home in the 86th to secure the host a share of the spoils.
British Virgin Islands vs. Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands dominated proceedings for most of the way, but British Virgin Islands fought bravely to keep their hosts at bay until the 84th minute.
That was when Elijah Seymour’s all-important left-footed strike secured all three points for Cayman Islands, much to the delight of the fans at the Truman Bodden Complex.
Teams begin hunt for promotion as League B, League C action to kick off fourth Concacaf Nations League
The much-anticipated fourth edition of the Concacaf Nations League gets underway on Wednesday, when 16 League B teams begin their hunt for promotion to taste League A action in the tournament’s next edition.
Split into four groups, the countries will face each other twice during the FIFA Match Windows in September, October, and November. However, unlike previous editions, matches will now be played at a centralized venue per group to help alleviate some of the travel challenges in the region.
Group winners will be promoted to League A, while fourth-place finishes are relegated to League C. Additionally, the tournament will help to decide berths for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Group A
El Salvador, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Bonaire comprise the first group. El Salvador returns to League B after being relegated in last year’s tournament, while Bonaire makes its debut after earning a promotion from League C.
Montserrat and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will try to build on their 2023/24 Nations League campaign, in which they both finished with nine points.
Group B
Curaçao, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Saint Martin are the teams drawn into Group B.
Saint Martin was promoted to League B, coming off an undefeated run in last year’s Nations League, while Curaçao is back in League B for the first time in three years after being relegated from League A. Grenada is also back after being relegated for the first time in four years.
Meanwhile, Saint Lucia, which tallied 10 points last year, will be hoping to ascend to League A for the first time.
Group C
Haiti, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Sint Maarten round out Group C.
Aruba returns to League B for the first time since 2019/20 via promotion. Haiti also is back after being relegated.
Sint Maarten and Puerto Rico will rely on top scorers Gerwin Lake and Ricardo Rivera to lead the way.
Group D
The four teams in Group D are the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.
Dominica arrives via promotion from League C to rub shoulders with Dominican Republic, and Antigua and Barbuda, who are on the hunt for a first-ever League A promotion, while Bermuda aims to improve after going 2-2-2 in last year’s edition.
At the conclusion of the group stage in November, the four group winners will qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage, and the two best second-place finishers will advance to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims.
The Gold Cup Prelims are scheduled for March 2025.
Meanwhile, League C action is also scheduled for Wednesday, with Bahamas and US Virgin Islands to open their Group A accounts. Barbados is the other team in the group.
Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands are set to cross swords in Group B, which also includes Belize, while British Virgin Islands will visit Cayman Islands in Group C, which also has St Kitts and Nevis.
At the end of the Group Stage in October, the three group winners and the best second-place finishers will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Nations League Play-In. The Play-In will take place in November 2024.
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