Dramatic wins for USA's Michael Maguire and Jamaica's Justin Burrowes on Jamaica Open Golf Championships final day

By Sports Desk November 18, 2021
Michael Maguire was the winner among the pros while Justin Burrowes (l) rallied to take the amateur title. Michael Maguire was the winner among the pros while Justin Burrowes (l) rallied to take the amateur title. Contributed

Michael Maguire of the USA sank a long birdie putt on Wednesday to clinch the 54th Jamaica Open Golf Championships in a dramatic play-off with countryman Ryan Sullivan on Wednesday as Dustin Risdon, who after the first two days collapsed during the final round to finish fifth.

Meanwhile, Justin Burrowes stormed back to pip defending champion William Knibbs for the amateur title.

Maguire and Sullivan each ended the regulation 72 holes on 8 under par 208 with scores 69 and 65, respectively, forcing a play-off for the title.

On the first hold, Sullivan made par. Maguire seized the opportunity with a birdie to improve on his third-place finishes in 2017 and 2019.

Sullivan's nine-under-par 65 was the best one-day score of the championship, just missing out on the record of 63 scored by Hernan Borja in 2017 at the Half Moon Golf Course while winning the Jamaica Open that year.

Stephen Grant, also of the USA, scored a four-under-par 68 for a three-day total of 209 which placed him third overall. Fourth went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Benjamin Martin, who shot 71 for a total score of 210.

Dustin Risdon of Canada, who led after the first and second days, respectively, lost his way after posting 3 over par 75 on the final day to end on 211 to take the fifth spot.

Meanwhile, Wesley Brown was the best local golfer along with Aaron Bailey after they carded rounds of 78 and 75, respectively, to end on nine-over-par 225.  Brown was not happy with his overall position of joint ninth. Bailey, on the other hand, was pleased with his placing even though he believed he could have played better.

Among the amateurs, Burrowes began Wednesday’s final day six strokes behind the day one and day two leader Knibbs but the two-time winner rallied with a three-under-par 69 for an overall score of one over par 217 to deny Knibbs, who carded his worst score, a 10-over-par 82 and eight-over 224 for the tournament.

Rocco Lopez was third on 231 after scoring 79 on the last day.  Fourteen-year-old Ryan Lue was joint third with Shamar Wilson.  They shot 79 and 83, respectively, to end on 237.

Jamaica Golf Association president Jodi Munn-Barrow and presenting sponsor Scott Summy of Aqua Bay Resort were pleased with the tournament this year.  Summy promised to be back as a sponsor.

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