The three-day Jamaica Open Golf Championship set to tee-off on Sunday, November 14, will be held in honour of the late Jasper Markland, it was announced at a Jamaica Golf Association press conference earlier this week.
The 54-hole Pro-Am tournament will be held at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover for a third consecutive year.
Markland won the Jamaica Open in 1964 and 1967 and was the caddy master at Constant Spring for many years. “He would be proud, very proud. He was a golf teacher here so he would be very happy for this,” said his daughter Margaret.
Meanwhile, JGA President Jodi Munn-Barrow, who was among the many who were taught by Markland, said she was anticipating a successful tournament that this year has attracted golfers from the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am looking forward to a fantastic tournament,” she said. “Although I am the president, it’s really the team of the Jamaica Golf Association that has pulled this off and without our sponsors, we would not be here. I am looking forward to the golf. I think it’s going to be an excellent week of golf.”
She paid tribute to Markland and lauded him for the role he played in the development and growth of the sport on the island.
“For my generation, Jasper was the professional golfer. I can’t think of anybody who started golf in my time who wasn’t taught by Jasper and beyond being a professional golfer he was a gentleman. He was my role model,” she said.
“He had been through so much in his life but he had still given back so much to golf and really a good example for all golfers in Jamaica, and I don’t think golf in Jamaica would be where it is without that platform, without that benchmark of Jasper Markland, hence the recognition.”
William Knibbs, the defending amateur champion, said he plans to win again this year notwithstanding the expected challenge from a number of contenders including the outstanding Justin Burrowes, who won in 2017 and 2019.
“I definitely think I can but I won’t get caught up thinking that’s my only focus because, ultimately, if I execute well and he beats me or if somebody else beats me then you just have to tip your cap to them but I will do everything in my power to give myself the best chance to contend again.”
Orville Christie, the best-placed local pro golfer in 2020 said he expects to get stern competition from the 2019 top local pro golfer Wesley Brown. He said that he has been preparing to compete at Tryall for some time and expect to do well again.
Orville Christie, the best placed local pro golfer in 2020 said he expects to get stern competition from the 2019 top local pro golfer Wesley Brown. He said that he has been preparing to compete at Tryall for some time and expect to do well again.
Scheffler swinging with confidence at Tour Championship despite seeing lead cut to four
Scottie Scheffler insists his swing is "in a good spot" despite seeing his lead at the top of the Tour Championship standings cut to four shots on the second day.
Scheffler, who is aiming to win his first FedEx Cup title, carded 65 in his opening round and entered the second round with a 10-shot lead.
However, the world number one saw American duo Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele close the gap during a weather-disrupted second round on Friday.
Scheffler carded a round of 66 to take himself to 21 under par, aided by two birdies in the final three holes to keep the chasing back at bay.
"I feel like my swing is in a good spot, and I've hit it nice the last couple of days," he said. "A lot of quality stuff out there, and in a good spot going into the weekend."
Morikawa is four shots off the pace after producing a superb eight-under 63, which was the best round of the day, and has surged up the standings to second place.
In an impressive round, he dropped just one shot on the 11th hole, but made amends on the back nine before closing with back-to-back birdies.
"He's going to continue to make birdies," Morikawa said about the possibility of catching Scheffler. "He's driving it really, really well here, and you're giving yourself enough wedges to make some scoring opportunities out there.
"For me, it's just about bringing energy and just staying alive out there."
Schauffele is in third, one shot behind compatriot Morikawa, after shooting an impressive second-round 64 to remain in the hunt for the $25million prize money.
There is then a four-shot gap until a group of three players, including Adam Scott, are tied for fourth place at 12 under, while Rory McIlroy is tied for 10th place on eight under.
'Still feel like I've got a chance', says McIlroy as Scheffler takes Tour Championship lead
Scottie Scheffler is in prime position to win his first FedEx Cup title after storming into a seven-shot lead at the Tour Championship.
The world number one, who started on 10 under due to the FedEx Cup's staggered structure, carded a superb 65 in the first round of the PGA Tour's season-ending tournament, after recovering from an early bogey at East Lake.
Scheffler's haul included seven birdies, with five of those coming from his last seven holes, as he bids to win a seventh PGA Tour event of the season.
His main FedEx Cup challenger Xander Schauffele is tied for second on nine under par, along with Collin Morikawa, while Rory McIlroy is three shots back in T10.
However, the Northern Irishman has not given up hope of applying pressure to Scheffler as the tournament goes on.
"I'm happy with how I hung in there and had a good finish," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"When I saw Scottie had gotten to 14, I was like, 'Oh, got to try to just hang on to the coattails a little bit'.
"Still feel like I've got a chance, and it was nice to finish the way I did."
Scheffler, also speaking to Sky Sports, said: "Yeah, I'm pleased with the day.
"I tried not to think about any sort of lead or anything like that, my job was to go out there and execute and I felt like I did a really good job of that. I felt like I was doing some good stuff to start the day.
"I had the bogey on one but after that I felt like I played some really good golf."
Bradley in disbelief after moving into FedEx Cup contention with BMW Championship win
Keegan Bradley was in disbelief after putting himself in FedEx Cup contention by winning his second BMW Championship title on Sunday.
Bradley, who was appointed as the United States' 2025 Ryder Cup captain last month, edged out Adam Scott to claim a one-shot victory at the event near Denver.
Scott pulled level with Bradley at the start of his final round but later bogeyed three straight holes as the American won his seventh PGA Tour title.
Bradley, who also won the 2018 tournament by beating Justin Rose in a play-off, now sits fourth in the FedEx Cup standings, behind Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama.
Following his victory, the 38-year-old set his sights on another triumph at next week's Tour Championship in Atlanta, having only just squeezed into the 50-player field at Castle Pines.
"Oh, man, it just shows why you've got to grind it out every week because you never know how fast it can switch," Bradley said.
"Now I go to Atlanta with a chance to win the FedEx Cup. I can't believe it. I'm so excited.
"I'm in a bit of a state of shock because there was a time a week ago about this time that I didn't think I was going to be coming here.
"I had to have a lot of magical things happen for me to just play in this tournament, and when I got here, I was so grateful just to be here.
"I played with a real sense of calm all week, which is not the norm for me"
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
