The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Golf Federation’s 2025 Capital Union Bank National High School Golf Championships ended with Windsor School successfully defending their titles in three of the four team divisions.

But there was just as much excitement at the BGF’s Driving Range as Maddison Carroll, Zachary Joseph, Amelie Zalsman and Aidan Gorospe emerged as the respective junior girls and boys and senior girls’ and boys’ individual divisional titles.

Carroll, in repeating as the junior girls’ champion, produced scores of 28 and 29 for her two-day total of 57. Mila Zalsman of Windsor Academy followed with 30-30-60 and Haley Hall of Bahamas Global Academy was third with 28-35-63.

“In the first round, I felt I was playing a bit steady and my game was going very well,” Carroll said. “I had to work on my swing, but I felt everything else went very well. 

“My putting was flowing. I made a lot of putts. I managed to birdie the last hole, which made my two-over-par turn into a one-over-par. So that made me tied for the lead.”

Carroll said her swing wasn’t as consistent on the second day as it was on her first day, but she still managed to keep her composure and held on for the win. “I was three-over heading into the last hole and then I made a birdie to keep my lead, so I ended with my round today (Friday) with a two-over-par. So, in total, I was three-over-par.”

Joseph, representing Achiever’s Christian Academy, emerged as the junior boys’ champion with a score of 56 (29-27).  Lance Pastoukhov Valdez was second with 61 (29-32) and William West of Windsor School was third with 63 (33-30).

“This is like a regular thing. I don’t have any competition out here. It feels great to win. I’ve been working my butt off lately, pushing myself in the gym,” he said.

“My competitors put up a good fight, but it wasn’t good enough. I just have to stay focused and keep practicing. When I wake up, I go on my knees and pray to God and he has given me the confidence to come out here and to play and to win.”

Windsor School won the junior boys’ team title with 195 (97-98), ahead of St Andrew’s, who got second with 214 (108-106). Lyford Cay International School was third with 253 (129-124).

Amelie Zalsman, a 16-year-old 10th grader at Windsor School, captured her second straight senior girls’ title with 53 (27-26). Her team-mates trailed her with Grace Crawford second with 56 (29-27) and Roisin Scanion third with 57 (29-28).

“It was a lot of fun. I got to play with all of my team-mates, so that was enjoyable,” Zalsman said. “Last year, we only played one round, but this year, we got two rounds, so it was a lot of fun. I felt very good about the performance.”

And 15-year-old Aidan Gorospe, a tenth grader at USPA Home Schooling, remained the top senior boy, winning his fourth straight title with 54 (28-26). 

Luke Grimes of Queen’s College was second with 58 (29-29) and Maximillian Landry of Windsor School was third with 60 (30-30).

“My performance was alright. It was okay the first day, but it was better on the second day,” said Gorospe, who the week before won the BGF’s Junior National title at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island.

“I just made more putts today (the second day on Friday). The competition was good. There were a lot of good competitors out there. It was good to win it again.”

As for Grimes, he was pleased withe the way things turned out for him and Queen’s College, who is still on a high after their Comets’ track team dethroned St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine during the BAISS Track and Field Championships.

“I had a lot of confidence in our guys and I’m glad that they stepped up to the challenge,” Grimes said. “They didn’t back away from it. I’m so proud of them.

“I felt good about my performance. There were a lot of holes that I could have played better, but I’m proud of how I played and I will definitely get better for next year.”

In summing up the performance for Windsor Academy, head coach Katie Roach said she couldn’t ask for anything more from her team.

“Mila and the junior girls, after day one, she was seeded fourth and then on day two, she came back strong and secured the silver medal,” Roach said.

“In the junior boys, they had the most competition. I think that was the most competitive competition. We were sitting in first going into day two, but it wasn’t a given as they had to fight hard to defend their title.

“And then with the senior boys and senior girls, we were very strong from day one and that carried over to day two. They wanted to take the trophies at home and they fought hard to defend their titles as well.”

Roach said they will be back next year, hopefully capturing all four divisional titles, although she admitted that the junior girls will be their biggest challenge.