The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHETHER or not she advances out of today's qualifying round, Daniela Darquea said she's just delighted to be in the Bahamas playing in the sixth annual Pure Silk Women's Professional Golf Tournament and helping out the Bahamian future stars at the youth clinic.

Darquea, a native of Ecuador, was on hand at the Bahamas Golf Federation's Driving Range on Saturday as she provided some professional tips during the Pure Silk's clinic that was held prior to the start of the week of activities at the Ocean Club Golf Course that starts today with a field of 34 players vying for two spots in the main draw that will begin on Thursday.

"It's been wonderful. I got here last night and today they are having the clinic, so I'm having a lot of fun," said Darquea, who is making her debut here in the Bahamas. "I love it (clinic). They (youngsters) are willing to learn. I had a chance to talk to most of the girls and I think they are passionate about it. I think they love it."

However, Darquea said what the Bahamian players are experiencing is something that has been a problem everywhere else. "I think the major issue about this sport around the world is that it is very expensive to play this sport. I think that's bad,' she said.

"I think everybody should be given a chance to try to play this sport because it is so wonderful. I think that is a major hindrance for the players here. But these youngsters are doing a fantastic job. I encouraged them that if they want to pursue it, they too can one day become a professional player."

Two of the Bahamian junior players were thrilled to have gotten the tips from Darquea.

Riya Miller, a 14-year-old 10th grader at Queen's College, is now in her third year playing golf and she felt the knowledge gained will definitely help her.

"I noticed that she really knows what she's doing. She's been dedicated to her work and she has been able to share that with us so that we can improve our game," said Miller, who is trained by Georgette Rolle.

"I'm glad that she shared her experience with us as well so we know that if she can do it, we can do it too."

And Miranda Tucker, a 15-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine's College, has been playing for the past six years and she's delighted with what she heard and seen from Darquea.

"I think it was really good and I enjoyed the exposure," said Rolle, who is trained by Ahmal Henfield and Matthew Cox, two of the local coaches at the clinic. "We don;t focus on golf as much as we should here, so it was really good for her to come to teach us some things from her."

Tucker admitted that she got some tips on how to be more consistent in hitting the ball as well as aiming and lining up the ball.

Henfield said they are grateful that Pure Silk has afforded the youngsters to mix and mingle with the professionals.

"This exposure for them, getting the feedback from the pros, is really good in boosting their momentum in becoming golf players," he said. "She told them that if they like it, they should invest in it. I think that's something only the pros can tell therm. As coaches, we turn into parents after a while and they and not to listen to us as much, but now that they listen to the pros, it's just something that we have been trying to tell them on a regular basis."

As this is just his first time volunteering to be a part of the Pure Silk Tournament, Henfield said he's looking forward to seeing how well Darquea and the rest of pro players perform this week.

Also in attendance was Alanna Hutchinson, who heads the BGF's junior programme, along with Agatha Delancy and Yvonne Shaw of the Women's Division of the BGF. They too will be assisting the organizers at the tournament, which will feature Bahamian Georgette Rolle as a participant in her fourth appearance as she attempt to advance out of the main draw into the final two days of competition over the weekend.

With this being her median voyage here, Darquea would like nothing better than to make it a more meaningful one if she can advance out of the qualifying round that starts today at 8 am.

"I'm looking forward to doing my best and having some fun on the course," she stated. "I'm very happy to be in the tournament. I think it;'s wonderful that they are having it here in the Bahamas because it brings world class professional tournament to various communities. Not that many communities get that chance, so it;s good that it is being played here. I know it could be good to have pone in Ecuador where I started playing since I was three years old."

With this being the sixth year that they have brought the tournament to the Bahamas, Matt Truax, one of the organizers, said they have been impressed not just with the facilities at Ocean Club, but how receptive the Bahamian people have been.

"We have a very strong field coming back this year and we feel it will be another wonderful tournament here in the Bahamas," he said. "We expect that we will get a good television rating and so we are looking forward to carrying that momentum forward. This is a good start for us to partner with the Bahamas Golf Federation to put on this clinic for the juniors and to have Daniela Daruea to share on how she has benefited from playing golf and sharing some things that she hope would benefit them as they improve their game."

Another youth clinic, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, will take place on Tuesday at 9:45 am at the Ocean Club.