Prestigious 58th Jamaica Open Golf Championship launched

The Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) launched the prestigious 58th Jamaica Open Golf Championship on Tuesday at the Constant Spring Golf Club in Kingston with high expectations from players and administrators.

The championship will be held at the picturesque Tryall Golf Club in Hanover for the sixth consecutive year, from November 7 to 10. The Proam tournament is scheduled for Saturday the 7th, with an 8:30 am shotgun start. It will feature the majority of the pros and the amateurs playing in teams, to share skills, generate camaraderie and introduce the course to the overseas based golfers.

Sixty-seven players from United States of America (USA), Trinidad & Tobago, the Cayman Islands, Canada, Bermuda and host country Jamaica completed their registration prior to Tuesday’s launch, including defending champion, professional Martin Benjamin of the Trinidad and Tobago. The playing format will be stroke play, 18 holes each day for a total of 54 holes. Competitors who complete the fifty-four-hole championship will receive coveted world ranking points.

“Sponsorship is one of the most critical elements of any event, particularly a professional event. We are very, very lucky that we have maintained Vybware, who is the presenting sponsor and they have been with us for the last four years but we are extremely lucky to have them. A number of the sponsors we have had in the past have not come on board this year. Because of Melissa a lot of companies have had setbacks but we are fortunate enough that JOA, who has come on board for the first time as a sponsor, and we have SDF who has supported us in the past. And we have gone after smaller sponsors this year, not big ticket but hole sponsorship and sponsorship for the program. And those have come in to help to fill the gaps that have been left by the others” said Peter Chin, chairman of the organizing committee.

He also said “if we have a full field, the prize money is 100,000 US. Last year, we had a smaller field than this. I shouldn’t say last year, 2024 we had a smaller field than this year, and we were able to pay out 75,000 US dollars so if the field gets up to 80, 85, we’ll probably be able to pay 100,000 dollars.”

JGA president Jodi Munn-Barrow who will also serve as the tournament director this year was optimistic about it. “We have quite a few repeat persons, repeat players, and so we’re looking forward to a very good event. We’re up to about 66 persons and we do expect to have some more between now and next week. We hope that we can have some spectators come and see the beautiful Tryall course, learn about the game more importantly, and hope that that may pique their curiosity to the point where they might find an interest in coming out and playing golf too.”

She also spoke about the importance of the Open to the association’s operation throughout the year. “This is our main financial earner for the association and the profits from this help to fund all of our development programs, especially through junior golf so not having the Open last year was a big blow to the association.”

Two of the sponsors, the Jamaica Olympic Association and the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) were represented by Christopher Samuda and Alan Beckford respectively, and they endorsed the open.

“We’ve always supported on the basis of this principle, sport for all and all for sport and we have articulated on numerous occasions that we don’t consider any sport small. Each sport must have an equal share of the wallet and it is on that principle that we inform our financial support for the various associations. Why golf? Because we see, of course, talent not only on the course but in the boardroom as well, and the commitment and dedication that they have for the sport. And at the Jamaica Olympic Association, we celebrate that. We celebrate those soft values that go into a human being in terms of how they decide they’re going to operationalize their sport. The sport has a magnificent opportunity in this tournament, and I’m hoping that Corporate Jamaica will still come on board to support it. When we marry sport with tourism, and golf provides an excellent example, then we have returns not only for our economy but also returns for the association that would allow them to build a sustainable financial model to support the generations of golfers. So we support it, and we will continue to support golf in a very real way” said Samuda.

Beckford outlined the many ways that the SDF supports golf including the Jamaica Open. “The Sports Development Foundation sees the importance of all sports in Jamaica, in particular golf. Golf benefits Jamaica in a number of ways. It gives all young Jamaicans, all Jamaicans as a matter of fact, an opportunity to play another sport. It’s a healthy sport. It’s good for physical activity. Also, it attracts tourists to Jamaica and visitors from overseas and helps to market our country. So the SDF, over the years, we continue to support golf. We have supported the youth level, we have supported at the pro-arm level, and we’re now supporting at the national level with the Jamaica Open. Also, we give administrative support as well to the Golf Federation”

Three golfers, one professional and two amateurs who were at the launch spoke about their expected performance at this year’s championship.

According to pro golfer Sean Green “My expectation is that well run event (sic), Jamaica Golf Association always delivers a top-class event. I also expect, from my own personal performance, a top ten. That’s what I’m looking for. Been working hard at the game this year, so hopefully to present myself with the with a substantial finish, something that I know I can achieve. Outside of that, looking forward to growing the game. As the president of the Professional Golf Association and representing Jamaica in this event, I think it’s important that we continue to show up, continue to play—continue to make this event the premiere event it is in the country.

Amateur player Oshae Haye was looking for a breakthrough, to win the amateur section for the first time. “I’m looking forward to a great tournament, as I always do. Just always have a last day bad finish. Looking forward to capitalize on that and have a good finish. For my tournament collection, this is the only tournament in Jamaica I don’t have on it, so looking forward to put it with my tournament collection.”

Zandre Roye, the other amateur was upbeat about his chances if he “just stay calm throughout the tournament, you know, try and improve on my previous performances. I think last time I played, I finished 21st, so try to improve on that, you know. Hopefully, low amateur at the end of the week will be ideal.”

He also said that his preparation has been going well “…I’m hitting the ball pretty good. I like where my game is at. Now is not the time to take any breaks, you know just keep your foot on the gas. Try to fine-tune some of the aspects of your game, and try to build it around the playing style of that golf course.”

Vybewear returns as presenting sponsor. Several other sponsors are on board including Tryall Golf Club, Jamaica Olympic Association, Sports Development Foundation, Jamaica Tours, ATL Automotive, BMW, JTB, Grand Palladium Group, Wata, Digcel, PXI.

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