Defending champ Campbell for Alliance Memorial Golf

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champion Fabian Campbell is among more than 140 participants down to compete in this year's third staging of the Alliance Investments Management/ Buccaneers Memorial Golf tournament, which will be held at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club on Saturday and Sunday.

National junior champion Jonathan Newnham, Xavier Rose, Rory Jardine, Paul Thompson, Radcliffe Knibbs and Dr Tommy Lee are the other main contenders for the top prize. On the women's side, Maggie Lyn and Jodi Ann Barrow are the leading players for the main title.

Peter Chin, president of Alliance Investment Management, said his company was happy to be associated with the event and he was looking forward to a very exciting championship.

"The tournament has become one of the best in Jamaica, hence our decision to sponsor it when we were approached for sponsorship, and we always try to stick to a winner," said Chin during Wednesday's press launch at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

"The Laws Street Trading Centre, for which we are raising money from this tournament, is a very worthy cause and we are happy to be contributing to it," Chin said.

Mark Chin, president of the Buccaneers, said: "The main purpose is to raise funds for the Laws Street Trading Centre and we will continue as long as we possibly can whenever our help is needed.

"We also want to play our part in having all the best golfers on the course, as well as attract new golfers into the system so that we can raise the standard of the game."

The tournament will feature two different competitions running concurrently. One will be a two-day 36-hole Jamaica Golf Association qualifier, while the other, to be played on Sunday only, will be a modified Stableford competition in the form of a charity fund-raiser for the Laws Street Trading Training Centre.

The format features: Saturday and Sunday, Medal Pay HCP 1-12, Modified Stableford HCP 13-24, men, seniors, super seniors, ladies and juniors. On Sunday, it will be Modified Stableford HCP 10-12, 13-24, 25-36, men and women.

Last year's tournament raised over $600,00 for the centre. The entry fee for the two days is $6,000 and $3,000 for the memorial event.