A REVITALISED National Heroes Championship golf tournament will swing into action this long weekend at the Breezes' SuperClubs course in Runaway Bay.
After three years of little or no sponsorship, the event has received a much needed boost through the Cigarette Company of Jamaica (CCJ) which will sponsor the weekend's 36-hole event under its name brand Rothmans.
Bill Telling, the chief executive officer of Carreras Ltd - the parent company of CCJ, said his organisation was keen to revive the popular event.
"Traditionally, it has been a very big tournament in the island and we thought it would be a good idea to resurrect it," Telling said.
"Due to budget constraints, we can't make any promises but we believe continuity in sponsorship is important and we would certainly look at sponsoring the event again."
Telling will wear two hats when the event tees off tomorrow: chief sponsor and competitor in the men's Seniors section. He is second on the Order of Merit and will be looking to wrap up a berth at the next year's National Trials.
"The Seniors section is the most competitive but I'm pretty confident I'll be invited to the Trials," he said. If Telling makes the national team for next year's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) he will boast the rare distinction of having represented Jamaica and Russia internationally.
"I played for Russia a few times while I was based there but I think it was more about who could drink a lot and still play than ability," he said. "The talent pool was not large."
The Seniors section is by far the strongest this weekend with Telling taking on the likes of Fred Sutherland - the Order of Merit leader, Dennis Atkinson, Francis Delgado, Cleo Taylor and Hansel Williams.
The Men's section is considerably weaker in the absence of injured national champion John Smith. Hoerman Cupper Owen Samuda and Michael Scott, winner of last month's Sandals 36, look the clear class of the field.
Darnley Thomas should have a clear run at the Ladies title as National champion Maggie Lyn and Caribbean champ Jodi Munn are unavailable.
The weekend's Rothmans National Heroes Championship will be followed on Monday by a two ball scramble.
By Tym Glaser
Associate Editor Sport
