Carl Spence, Gleaner Writer
A JAMAICAN contingent of 12 junior golfers and three officials will depart today for Westin Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort and Spa in Puerto Rico, where they will be competing for the Caribbean Golf Association's 18th championships.
Jamaica have won five female and two male championships.
However, they have never won the Championship Trophy which was introduced to the competition six years ago.
At the last tournament in Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico walked away champions, while Jamaica stumbled to a sixth-place finish in a 10-nation competition.
This, however, is expected to change, according to team manager, Larry Bailey.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
"I think we can do a little better this year, the team is not as strong as it should be because we should have 14 players, but we only have 12, so what we are looking forward to is some good individual performances, even if as a team we don't win the championship," he stated.
Bailey thinks much will come from Brandon Chin in the Under-18 age group, Wesley Brown and Vittoria Marley from the Under-15 group and Jonathan Newnham from the 12 and under age group.
Brown, who had a disappointing 10th-place finish in the last championship, feels confident of winning his age group this time around.
"I was a bit shaky last year because it was my first year but I have more confidence in myself and I have experience, so I plan to win this year," he said.
Marley, the leading female junior golfer, expressed similar sentiments.
CONFIDENCE
"I'm very confident with how my game is right now. So if I continue to play well and not be intimidated by the crowd when I get over there, I should do well."
The team consists of, Adrian Bradford, Braudon Chin, Kemar Brown and Tiffany Ferrier in the Under-18 group; Wesley Brown, Lawrence Bailey, Nikolas Hudson, Vittoria Marley and Shaniel McCloud comprise the Under-15 age group; while Jonathan Newn-ham, Ian Facey and Rochelle Prince make up the Under-12 age group.
Dr. Mark Newnham is the team's coach while Jeanie Hudson travels as the team's chaperone.
The trip was made possible through major sponsorships from Jamaica National Building Society, Ammars, Sun Island and JLB Shipping Limited, among other cash donors.
