Herman McDonald Memorial to end golfing season

This weekend's Herman McDonald Memorial tournament marks the final event on the Jamaica Golf Association's 2010-2011 calendar.

This inaugural event will be played in memory of McDonald, who represented the island in the first Hoerman Cup in Jamaica in 1957. He also participated as a team member in numerous championships during his golfing career. At the 50th renewal of the Caribbean Championship, McDonald captained Jamaica's side and competed in the Higgs & Higgs team. He passed away in 2010.

Lindy Delapenha, distinguished Jamaican sportsman and national golf representative, will be honoured through the Lindy Delapenha Challenge, to be played in an 18-Hole Stableford format. The Challenge will run concurrently with the 36-hole tournament.

First competition

Delapenha first competed in the Hoerman Cup in Jamaica in 1965 when the event was open only to teams from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad. He has the distinction of having competed on eight winning teams for the Hoerman Cup (men), Francis & Steele-Perkins Trophy (senior men) and the Higgs & Higgs Trophy (super senior men).

Delapenha, who first started playing golf at age 35 while in England, has also won a number of local titles, including the Jamaica Open (amateur division) and the Jamaica National Amateur Championships. He has also won the Jamaica Match Play Championships a total of seven times. At age 83, he still plays four times each week and manages to shoot his age or lower.

On the weekend, hopefuls for the national side will have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the Constant Spring Golf Club. Fabian Campbell, Robert Chin, Radcliff Knibbs, Jonathan Newnham, Sean Morris, Philip Prendergast, Jodi Barrow and Michele Gabay are among past national team members who have already entered.

A strong contingent of junior golfers is expected for this, the last competition before their team trials in March.

The tournament is sponsored by CGM Gallager and Pear Tree Press, in association with American Home Assurance. Product sponsors include Absolut, Caribbean Passion, Chivas, Rex Goliath, Sandals and Yes Golf.

The memorial tees off at 7 a.m. today. Prizegiving will take place tomorrow evening. Local golfers have been invited to participate in honouring both Delapenha and McDonald.