The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Eva Hilton Shockers repeated as the National Primary Schools Golf Championship public schools boys’ and girls’ champions.

After their victory on Tuesday at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, they will square off against the private school champions from Monday. The top 10 competitors from both the public and private schools will clash today, starting at 8am, to determine the overall primary school champions.

Unlike Eva Hilton’s dominance of the public schools, the primary schools’ competition was shared around. 

Windsor Academy won the lower primary schools boys’ title on Monday with 117, St Andrew’s took the lower primary girls with 137; the Poitier Golf Home School captured the upper primary girls crown and Home Schooling took the upper primary boys crown.

The coaching staff at Eva Hilton were just elated to do it all over again.

“We’re very pleased with the results. The hard work is really paying off,” said assistant coach Tito Hanna. “The boys and girls lower and upper primary, continue to make steady growth. That is all we could ask for.”

Eva Hilton won three of the four individual titles as well with Lonwensky Phaeton of Yellow Elder Primary spoiling the show by taking the lower primary boys’ title with a score of 45. Grayson Gomez of Palmdale Primary was second with 52 and Andrew Roberts of Eva Hilton got third with 53.

Kendria Dames won the lower primary school girls’ title with 51 as Eva Hilton recorded a sweep on the podium with Amelia Frazer second with 53 and Vevnaria Stubbs third with 58.

J’Niyah Moxey topped the field in the upper primary girls with 54 for Eva Hilton, followed. y her team-mate Maddison Taylor with 55 for second. Marlee Poitier was third with 60.

And in the upper primary boys division, Antonio Hernandez was the winner of the upper primary boys division with 35. Caleb Adderley of Palmdale Primary was second with 41 and Fritzner Sylvester of Eva Hilton got third with 45.

Head coach Zindora Munnings said they had some new players competing for the first time like Moxey, who won the upper primary schools.

“With her coming first, it was a plus. I think that boosted the team because it just showed that anybody can do it.”

When asked if their performances were expected, Munnings quickly quipped: “Yes.” And when asked if they will be back for a three-peat, she stressed “yes. 

“Let’s not doubt ourselves. It’s all in the making. It’s consistency and hard work. Practice makes perfect.”

The won the lower primary boys division with 161, followed by Palmdale Primary with 176 and Thelma Gibson with 212.

In the lower primary girls’ division, Eva Hilton took first place with 162 with Palmdale Primary second with 198 and Thelma Gibson third with 211. 

Eva Hilton also took the upper primary boys division with 129 over Palmdale Primary with 171 for second. Sybil Strachan took third place with 180.

And in the upper primary girls division, Eva Hilton  won with 171 over Palmdale with 199 and Thelma Gibson in third with 209.

This year’s tournament attr5aqcted at least two teams from the Family Islands.

Akili Hamilton brought in six competitors from South Andros, entering three in the primary division and three more are expected to compete in the high school segment.

“It’s the first time for these kids to be playing golf, but they performed very well,” Hamilton said. “The young girl, who played today, Jemia Smith (66) she did very well, but I think the two boys Adoniyah Culmer (63) and Ojefoh Osareme (66) were overwhelmed competing and they just over powered themselves.

“As long as they try to play more, we will get them to come over and play in more tournaments so they can get used to playing.”

Hamilton said he’s now looking forward to watching the three seniors as they compete on Thursday and Friday.

“When we leave here, we hope that everybody will know who they are,” he said.

And Brandyt Albury came in from Central Eleuthera with Gabriel Fox from Emily Petty and Perez Williams from James Cistern Primary, who shot 64 and 65 respectively in the upper boys division.

“It was exhilarating. It’s an awesome feeling because this is the first tournament for them,” Albury said. 

“The actual coach who was heading our group, said they did very well for first timers. They had fun from the beginning to the end. So that was exciting.”

Albury said she intent to be back next year with more players.

Tournament director Georgette Rolle-Harris said she was particularly pleased with the way the first two days of competition went for the primary schools.

“We had over 400 players. The turnout was awesome and the comradery between with the schools and the players is always representative of the game and the values that just come naturally with it,” she said.

“We were super pleased with the players. For us, it presents a new challenge, trying to limit the number of players advancing, but it’s exactly the problem we want to have. It comes along with growth of an event.”

Amhal, one of the outreach officers a director for the Fourteenths Golf Academy, said they able to achieve their goal by going into the schools and getting more teams to come out and compete in the nationals.

“It’s been a rough ride getting through the kind of weather we have been experiencing, but the kids are persevering,” he said. “We’re happy to see the kids smiling as they receive their medals after the second day of competition.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the rest of the plyers as they come out to compete in the junior high and senior high divisions over the last two days.”

The tournament will wrap up on Thursday and Friday with the two-fay accumulative scores for the high schools.