Barbadian Young Golfers Shine at Optimist International Junior Championship in Miami, Florida

Seven young golfers from Barbados are competing this week in the Optimist International Junior Championship, being hosted at the Trump National Doral Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida, USA. Optimist Junior Golf, one of the world’s largest junior championships, is billed as “an exciting and unique junior golf programme” and it caters to players aged 10-18.

Over 600 golfers annually compete in this tournament. Optimists have been involved in the sport of junior golf for more than 30 years by holding local, regional, and international tournaments.

More than 5,000 golfers compete in official Optimist District qualifying tournaments in the USA. The best of these golfers, along with international golfers from around the globe, advance to the annual Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.

From Barbados, in the Boys 10-11, Kalani Price was 38th, scoring a 67-over 283 (97, 95, 91) in three rounds of play. Kaidon Bishop and Joshua Sambrano were in the Boys 12-13 group. Bishop, the younger of the two, ended tied for 77th, whilst Sambrano finished 86th. Bishop shot a +48 264 (96, 79, 89) and Sambrano +59 275 (89, 91, 95).

Christ Church native Jonathan Broome took on the competition in the Boys 14-15 division. He was unable to make the cut for the final round, hitting a +26 169 (84, 85) in the first two days of play. In the Clash of the Challengers on the third day, he shot a +17 88 to finish tied for 38th.

Contesting the Girls 13-14, Kiara Wilson of St James compiled a +70 286 (95, 97, 94) to finish 45th.

On the weekend, the final two athletes will swing into action in the senior category, where they will hope for better fortunes, In the Boys 16-18 will be Christopher Jackman, whilst Mariella Young will aim to build on her success at this level over the past 18 months, taking on the Girls 15-18 field.

(TF)