Junior golfers bring their best

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 6 February 2018

James Rees makes his final putt as Derek Peene looks on

It was a good day on the course, as more than half of the field turned in their best scores so far in the Cayman Islands national junior golf team qualifiers on Sunday, 4 February at the Ritz-Carlton.

This was the third of four rounds of qualifying. The best three of four scores will be counted to golfers’ final scores to determine who makes the team for the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship. As many as seven of the 12 golfers who teed off had their lowest or tied their lowest scored.

In the girls 13-and-under division, Lauren Needham shot 80. “It was a pretty solid round. I definitely had a better back nine than I had on the front nine,” she said, noting a birdie on #8 was the highlight of her day. Her earlier rounds were 85 and 79.

Meantime, Holly McLean had a tougher day, shooting 89 after her 79 at North Sound Golf Club on 14 January.

Sam McLean, Lauren Needham, and Andy Hastings all enjoyed their time on the course.

In the boys 13-and-under, Andy Hastings shot 76 to lead the field on the day, rebounding from his 90 last month and bettering his 79 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in the first round.

“It was a good day. The course was in good condition and there was not much wind today,” Hastings said. When asked what was the best part of his game on the day, Hastings replied: “Probably my putting. I made a lot of 10-15 footers.”

James Bould shot 80 to finish second in the division on Sunday. It matched his best round of qualifying, following up on 80 in Round 1 and 86 in Round 2. Todd Purton had by far his best round so far with 85, after 95 and 94 in the earlier rounds.

Other scores: Danny Lyne 86 (87), Derek Peene 88 (105), Sam McLean 99 (101, 109), James Rees 101 (98, 102).

Sam McLean tees off on the final hole.

McLean hit an impressive tee shot on the final hole, which allowed him to tap in his put and finish under 100 for the first time in qualifying. “It was a really good shot for me and I was happy that I got it close to the hole,” he told CaymanSportsBuzz.com.

Aaron Jarvis turned in the best score of the day in the boys 15-and-under division with 70, to follow his 78 from January. Justin Hastings was two strokes back with 72. He shot 69 and 76 in earlier qualifying rounds. Tom Dickens hit 104, after having 100 and 93 in rounds one and two.

Derek Peene shot 88.

The final round of qualifying is Sunday 25 February, with the team being announced shortly after for the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship being held in Jamaica in July.