JGA boss hopes CGA Four-Ball Golf Championships success brings more sponsors
Published:Thursday | November 3, 2022 | 12:14 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Golf Association, Jodi Munn-Barrow, hopes that the current trajectory of the sport in Jamaica will lead to a burgeoning of the financial support needed for further growth.
“We keep talking about the lack of support that we get financially, so we’re hoping that these wins will allow us to get a little more support, especially with the development of the junior programme. Without that support, the game can’t grow. We have to start with the youth, and we’re really hoping that this win will inspire more companies to come on board,” said Munn-Barrow.
The ‘win’ Munn-Barrow speaks about was the country’s recent performance at the CGA Four-ball Golf Championships at the Golden Palm Golf Course in Florida.
Jamaica won the six trophies on offer at the tournament, the Men’s 35 and over, Men’s 50 and over, Men’s 60 and over, Women’s 35 and over, Women’s 50 and over, and the Country Trophy.
Jamaica, who won titles back in 2019 and 2021 (no competition in 2020 due to COVID), completed the three-peat, finishing on 53 points to lift the Ambrose Gouthro award ahead of Bahamas (28), Cayman Islands (22), Puerto Rico (16), and Trinidad and Tobago (12).
Despite finishing some 25 points clear of Bahamas, Munn-Barrow said the competition was tough and the final point tally wasn’t an accurate display of what took place.
“It was tough because all teams were playing well, so Jamaica had to really focus on their game, and I think that was what made the difference, just being able to focus. The team spirit and camaraderie also helped us a lot,” she said.
Munn-Barrow, along with Lisa Gardener, won the Maria Nunes trophy by 12 strokes over the Puerto Rican pair of Mara Pagan and Rebeckah Alford in the Women’s 35 and Over category. The president pointed out that the tough Florida course also made for more challenges.
“It was very difficult. They just had the effects of the storm (Ian), so the course was very wet, which made it play longer, and then they couldn’t cut the rough, which made it very thick, and that made the course very difficult,” she said.
Heading into the championships, Munn-Barrow said that the Jamaican team was oozing with confidence and that there was no real thought that they would not end the three-day championships as winners.
“We try not to think that way, but we were heading in as “cautiously optimistic”. You can only put in the preparatory work beforehand, which we did for about five weeks with the national coach, and I think that was what helped us.”