The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HEATHCLIFF Kane and Anne Fernandez emerged as the Bahamas Golf Federation’s 2021 National Amateur Golf Championships’ male and female champions.

As the three-day tournament closed out yesterday in the midst of a downpour of rain at the Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar, Kane withstood his ground and easily carted off the top prize in the men’s division with a total gross score of 215 (72-69-74).

His nearest rival for second place was Richard Gibson Jr with 221 (75-72-74). Paul Tsavoussis was one stroke behind at 222 (78-69-75).

Kane, a 17-year-old on-line graduate who is a member of the Albany Tennis Academy, also pulled off the victory as well in the President’s Cup, which was decided over the first two days of competition at the Ocean Club Golf Club on Paradise Island.

Kane, however, fell short by one stroke with his net total of 142 (69-63), losing out to Chris Bloore, who topped the field with 141 (71-70).

“I played well. My first day good and then today, we had to wait a lot on the tees because of the rain, which made the rounds very long and hard to keep my concentration,” Kane said. “But I am happy overall with my performance.”

Bloore said coming off the course at the Ocean Club, he knew he was in pretty good company on the final day, but he was a little concerned about the weather. “I had a really good performance on the back nine. I had birdies on 11 and 17. That did it for me. I just played solid, which was great,” he stated.

Fernandez, playing in her first BGF Tournament, made it a memorable one as she clinched both the female amateur crown with 224 (78-73-73) and the President’s Cup with 148.

“I was really happy with it because I was able to keep my composure,” said the 15-year-old Fernandez, who is also a part of the Albany Tennis Academy. “Overall, I’m happy with it. I made a couple of birdies, so I’m happy to get the win.” Fernandez said the good thing was the fact that the majority of the females competing are members of Albany Tennis Academy so it was really competitive from start to finish.

Holly Mclean was the runner up in the national amateur category with 231 (77-74-80) and Emily Mayne was third with 237 (80-80-77).

“It feels good. This is the first time playing this course. It’s so nice. I love it,” said the 16-year-old native from the Cayman Islands, who has been at the Albany Tennis Academy for the past two years.

“It feels good playing against Anne, who is like my best friend. It was good competition heads up all through the tournament. So it was good to get in this tournament.”

And in the President’s Cup, trailing Fernandez as the runner up was Jenna Bayles with 151 (75-76) and Nyah Singh was third with 153 (79-74).

Francise Dillet was also a double winner, taking the female senior in the national amateur division with 385 and the President’s Cup with 163.

Max Quant led a host of Grand Bahamians, who shined, by taking the national amateur legends title with 272, followed by former BGF president Ambrose Gouthro (275). Robert Martyn won the male senior with 233 and Paul Bowe won the super senior with 240 over Leroy Williamson’s 244.

Bill Birchall won the male legends with 152 (70-82); Broderick Pinder captured the male senior with 144 (72-77) and Paul Major picked up the male super senior crown with 148 (75-73).

BGF president Lynford Miller said the tournament was a success with a full field of 72 player. Although they had to call of the first day of competition on Thursday at Albany, he said the weather held up for them to complete three days.

“We want to congratulate our male champion Heathcliff Kane and our new female entry Anne Fernandez. They are both junior players and aspiring professional golfers, so we wish them well.”

Not to be left our of the celebrations, Miller took the Mid-Amateur title and he congratulated himself for a job well done after he shot 232 (79-77-76).

Miller said the BGF will now prepare the winners as they practice to travel on the various national teams to represent the Bahamas in the Dominican Republic in August for the juniors and the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships also in August in Puerto Rico.