It’s close at the top in Travel Advisors Golf Tourney

FORMER national player Jonathan Newnham yesterday watched as the 18th US Travel Advisors Golf Tournament teed off at a venue he knows all too well – Sandals Golf and Country Club in Upton, St Mary – freshly minted as resident pro in charge of the first staging since COVID-19 interrupted the annual event.

Caribbean senior champion in 2015, Newnham leads a team including Bill Williams, a mainstay at the Upton course for as nearly as long as it has existed, nurturing homegrown talent such as Romaine Williams, who won the boys’ 17 and under category at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships in the US Virgin Islands.

Newnham was in his comfort zone as 84 travel advisers teed off, two teams ending the first of two days’ play tied on 64 in the 72-hole four-man scramble.

Ron Wagman, David Assef, Scott Austin and Annaliza Proctor will start this morning vying for top honours against joint leaders Damon Spady, Peter Drab, Jodi Hoeser and Megan Sams.

There is another tie for second with two teams on 65, hoping to improve on their one-hole deficit. Ken Mann, Stephen Ellemo, Brad Beckman and Scott Roether will start the final day seven under par with Jay Noller, Jeremy Lee, Adam Anderson and David Anderson.

Newnham said he was drawn to Sandals Golf and Country Club by the resort’s investment in the sport, which it has been using to market Jamaica as a golfing destination, hosting one of three annual Travel Advisors tournaments, the oldest of which is the Canadian Baxter competition with the Latin American version being the most recent since 2013.

“There’s a new sponsorship with Titleist and FootJay (equipment and footwear, respectively), which will better suit players’ needs, plus there is upcoming reopening of the clubhouse, which was destroyed by fire last July,” Newnham pointed out, adding that he has inherited a great team, which has helped him assimilate four months into the job.

On the greens, many-time participants Mike Zuch, and the Fields – Dennis, Larry Sr and Larry Jr – ended the first day fourth on 68 but were in high spirits, sporting their Buffalo Bills-themed outfits, hoping to at least win the Best Dressed title.

“We’ve been doing this so long, it’s good to be home,” said Larry Sr, adding that the ride to the course was a memorable one after a two-year break.

“Everything remains the same,” he pointed out. “What’s new were some faces, more travel advisers to sell Jamaica.