Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport

Johnny Bloomfield kisses the Jamaica Open Trophy after his victory at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club yestereday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

JOHNNY BLOOMFIELD completed a wire-to-wire victory to have his name etched on the Jamaica Open golf championship trophy yesterday at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St. Catherine.

The Fort Lauderdale-based Jamaican shot a one-under 71 on the third and final day to win the 54-hole professional section with a gross score of one-under 215 (70-74-71) and collect the first prize of US$8,000.

Another Jamaican based in Florida, Peter Horrobin, finished second - two strokes behind Bloomfield with rounds of 72, 74 and 71 (217) while Horrobin's World Cup teammate of a few year's ago, Ralph 'Jimmy' Campbell, claimed the third-place prize, one stroke further back after rounds of 75, 71 and 72 (218). Horrobin, who will represent the island at next month's World Cup in Barbados with senior Delroy Cambridge, collected a cheque for US$5,000, while Campbell goes back to his U.S. base US$3,000 richer.

However, the day and rejuvenated tournament belonged to 27-year-old Bloomfield who has rediscovered his passion for the game and is planning to make a full-fledged assault on qualifying for the U.S. Tour.

Great feeling

"It feels great. This is not only my first win in Jamaica but also my first win as a professional," Bloomfield said after his final round yesterday.

"It's pretty cool. It's good that the people that have invested in me can see a little something in our home country and see that I have been working hard on my game and hopefully there will be better things to come," he said.

Youngster Fabian Campbell emerged the top amateur after three one-over rounds of 73 for a gross of 219 which relegated Paul Thompson (72-74-74-220) to second by a mere stroke. In the men's amateur handicap flight 6-10 Robert Chin (83-77-72-232) defeated Mark Newnham (77-81-79-237) and Shawn Knight (79-81-81-241).

Paul Seaton won the 11-16 flight and Clifton Johnson the 17-24 bracket. Meanwhile, veteran Maggie Lyn clinched the women's crown with a minimum of fuss against her two opponents from Curacao.