Almost all of Jamaica’s golfers produced improved performances during Wednesday’s second round of the 38th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship at the Playa Dorada Golf Club in the Dominican Republic.
For the second consecutive day, 18-and-Under Boys competitor Kemari Morris recorded Jamaica’s best individual score, carding a three-over-par 75 for a two-round total of 153. He sits 12 strokes behind joint leaders Waldo Aguasvlvas Arias of the Dominican Republic and Ayden Febres of Puerto Rico, who are both on 141. Febres also recorded the tournament’s best second-round score with a five-under-par 67.
Jamaica’s three newcomers also impressed by posting personal bests in the second round. Amelia Clough rebounded from an opening-round 102 to shoot 90, giving her a two-round total of 192 and moving her from seventh to fifth place in the 13-and-Under Girls division.
In the 13-and-Under Boys category, Jaleel Eccleston improved by seven strokes, shooting 81 after an opening-round 88. His performance lifted him from 10th to seventh place. Fellow newcomer Mark Schnoor also carded an 81, nine shots better than his first-round 90, moving him up one position from 12th to 11th.
Under-15 Boys competitor Shasa Redlefsen, who entered the championship with high expectations, also made significant progress. He shot a six-over-par 78, nine shots better than his opening-round 89, for a total of 167. The score moved him up two places to 13th overall.
In the 18-and-Under Girls division, Kingston Burke posted a second consecutive round of 85 to remain in sixth place.
Francesca Black also matched her opening-round score of 86 for a total of 172 but slipped one position to seventh in the Under-15 Girls category. Teammate Alessandra Coe followed her first-round 86 with an 88, giving her a total of 174 and 11th place after two rounds.
Team manager Alison Reid praised the team’s progress.
“Day two brought with it some really good results. They really listened to our team talk yesterday where we told them to think about their decisions, don’t just play but think about their decisions and make good decisions,” Reid said.
“We’re really proud of our three youngest juniors who had personal bests. The children are playing, they’re doing their best and, as I’ve mentioned, the path to our development is what this is all about, and I am proud of the direction that it’s going.”
With one round remaining, the Jamaican team will be aiming to build on its improved performances and finish the championship on a strong note.
Jamaican Juniors Face Tough Opening Round at Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship
