The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TEAM Bahamas opened the 27th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships yesterday as the host country celebrates 60 years in the sport.

The event teed off in its respective divisions in round one of the event which is being hosted at the Dorado Beach Resort and Club in Puerto Rico in celebration of the Puerto Rico Golf Association’s 60th anniversary.

Leading the way for Team Bahamas is Lucas Echeverri in the boys’ under-17 division, who shot an opening round 86, 14 shots over par.

After Echeverri shot birdies on the third and sixth hole, he finished from nine one over par but suffered two bogeys and five double bogeys on the back nine. He is tied for ninth in the under 17 division and No.32 overall.

Also in the 20-man under-17 division, Asif Robinson is 11th after he shot an 89 (+17) and Brian Coakley is 12th with a 91 (+19).

Juan Jose Guerra of the Dominican Republic leads the group after he shot -1 par, 71.

Cameron Riley, playing in the boys’ under-15 division, is also tied at No.32 overall with an opening round 86, 14 over par. He is ranked No. 9 in the 20-man field.

Ryan Coarbell is ranked No. 17 with a 96, +24, while Aharon Bastian finished at No.19 after a 102, +30.

Local favourite Ian Aldarando, of Puerto Rico, is the top scorer in the tournament after the opening day after he shot a blistering 69, -3 under par.

Xavier Robinson is tied for ninth in the boys’ 10-13 division 90, +18, while Anthony Loon shot 114, +42, tied for 14th in the 15-player field.

Dominican Republic’s Juan Caryo Delgado shot an even 72 to head the field.

In the girls’ 16-17 division, Marlique Hield is No.7 with an opening round 90, +16 while L’Leah King is ranked No. 8 after shooting 107, +35.

Puerto Rico’s Kristina Ortiz leads the field after she shot 76, +4.

In the girls’ 14-15 division, Inecia Rolle’s 88, +16, placed her in a tie for fifth.

Top ranked Diana Velez of Puerto Rico shot 79, +7.

In the girls’ 10-13 division, Tynesha Tynes shot 96, +24, while Ashley Mitchell shot 98, +26 for fourth and fifth place respectively.

Another Puerto Rican leads their respective division as Maria Sanchez leads the group with an 84, +12.

The Bahamian golfers will continue to face-off against their Caribbean counterparts from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on the 18-hole championships course. The tournament concludes August 1.

At the 26th CAJGC, the Bahamas finished in fourth place at the tournament hosted at the North Sound Golf Club, Cayman Islands.

The Bahamas finished fourth with a score of 118 behind first place Puerto Rico with 151, the Dominican Republic with 139 and Trinidad and Tobago with 135.

Jamaica finished fifth with 91 and Barbados rounded out the top six with 40.

The championships are played annually and is rotated amongst the members of The Caribbean Golf Association.

This team event, first played in Puerto Rico in 1988, is played over 54 holes in three divisions for boys and girls 10-17 years.