PLAYA DORADO, Dominican Republic — Jamaica’s junior golfers endured a challenging start to the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship, battling intense heat and gusty afternoon winds during the opening round at Playa Dorado Golf Club.
Despite the difficult conditions, the team remains optimistic with two rounds still to play.
In the Girls 15 and Under division, Alessandra Coe and Francesca Black sit joint sixth after both carding 14-over-par 86. They trail Bermuda’s leader, Davina Betchart, by 10 strokes after she opened with a four-over-par 76.
Kingston Burke is also sixth in the Girls 18 and Under category after posting a 13-over-par 85. She is 15 shots behind Puerto Rico’s Sofia Andrea Riveira, who fired a two-under-par 70.
Competing in the Girls 13 and Under division, newcomer Amelia Clough finished the opening round in seventh place with a 30-over-par 102. Puerto Rico’s Sofia Guadalupe Sanchez Solo leads that category on nine-over-par 81.
Jamaica’s newest representatives in the Boys 13 and Under division, Jaleel Eccleston and Mark Schnoor, placed 10th and 12th respectively. Eccleston shot 16-over-par 88, while Schnoor recorded 18-over-par 90. They trail Dominican Republic leader Alejandra Balbuena, who opened with a two-under-par 70.
In the Boys 15 and Under category, Shasa Redlefsen is tied for 15th after shooting 17-over-par 89. Puerto Rico’s Fernando Javier Leduc Lopez tops the leaderboard with a two-under-par 70.
Kemari Morris produced Jamaica’s best individual performance of the day, carding a six-over-par 78 to finish ninth in the Boys 18 and Under division. He sits behind co-leaders Waldo Aguasvlvas Arias of the Dominican Republic and Ethan Collier of Trinidad and Tobago, who both posted one-under-par 71.
Team manager and junior golf convener Alison Reid said the players were disappointed with their performances but believes valuable lessons were learned from the demanding course.
She explained that success at Playa Dorado depends heavily on accurate ball placement, with numerous fairway bunkers punishing even slight errors off the tee.
Reid also praised the younger members of the team, saying Amelia Clough, Mark Schnoor and Jaleel Eccleston handled themselves well despite placing high expectations on their own performances.
She said the players have been encouraged to relax, enjoy the game and trust their preparation rather than focusing solely on results.
With two rounds remaining, Jamaica will be aiming to improve both individual scores and overall standings at the regional championship.
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