Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - SportMONTEGO BAY:
SUPERB TWO-under-par 69s by Owen Samuda and Fabian Campbell highlighted action on yesterday's opening day of the national trials to select Jamaica's team for the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) at the Cinnamon Hill course in Rose Hall.
Samuda's round featured five birdies and three bogeys while Campbell's card showed four birdies and two bogeys.
"It was a spectacular round," Samuda said of his effort. "I am hitting and putting the ball well. I made a couple of mistakes but you can expect that in a golf round, you can't do everything right," he said.
PLAYED WELL
Samuda said the course, which will host the CAGC in August, played well yesterday.
"It was pretty calm and in good condition and I liked the way it was playing. The course is green and the greens are rolling not too fast they are medium, so it gives you a chance," he said. "It has always been my dream to play the Hoerman Cup at home and I'm just trying to do my best to make the team."
Campbell, 20, was also thrilled with his performance.
"It was all about placement," he said. "Most of the time from the tee box it looked very far but when you got down there (on the course) it was very short. What I did was position myself and took it one shot at a time.
"Right now I am very nervous because I never thought I could play such a good round. Last week I played a practice round here and took some notes and went home and practised my putting and driving," he said.
While Samuda's and Campbell's rounds were the stand-out ones of the day,
several others caught the eye.
Runaway Bay youngster Narada Black carded a two-over 73, which could have been even more impressive if not for a triple bogey at the par-three 15th hole.
INJURY
Keith Stein, off the local golf scene for more than a half a decade, carded a cool even-par 71 to put him at the forefront of the running for the over-35s Ramon Baez Figueroa Trophy team. His likely partner, Oregon-based Philip Prendergast, fired a 77 while battling a wrist injury incurred during a practice round last week.
Hoerman Cup veteran John Smith, aiming for a berth on the senior Francis and Steele Perkins Trophy team, shot a useful four-over 75 to signal he's going to be a force in that category. In the women's section, Jodi Barrow carded a 78 to lead Leiza Blakeley (86) and Michiko Asonuma (88). Veteran Maggie Lyn joins the fray today.
Trial action will be incorporated into the 36-hole Jablum Cinnamon Hill Classic today and tomorrow.
First tee time today will be at 9:00 a.m.
