Jamaica's hopes rest with veterans Tym Glaser

Associate Editor - Sport

JAMAICA'S HOPES of emerging with any silverware from this year's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) in St. Croix rest with the island's superseniors after yesterday's penultimate day of play.

Needing sub-par rounds to get back in the chase, the men's and women's teams again conceded ground to their sectional leaders. After three rounds, no Jamaican player has cracked par, 72 for men and 73 for women, at the tricky US Virgin Islands' Carambola course.

The Hoerman Cup team grossed 300 yesterday through the agency of Michael Scott (74), John Smith (75), Philip Prendergast (75) and Xavier Rose (76) for an overall total of 908. However, leaders Puerto Rico stroked 297 yesterday to extend their lead over fifth-placed Jamaica to 16 strokes. Puerto Rico's main challenge today will come from second-placed OECS who are seven strokes back on 899.

Barring a Krakatoa-type catastrophe, the Puerto Rican women will romp away with Jamaica's George Teale Trophy crown. After a 147 in the third round they boast a gross total of 440, 24 better than second-placed defending champions Jamaica who scored 156 yesterday (Jodi Munn 78, Maggie Lyn 78).

The Francis and Steele-Perkins squad showed signs of life yesterday with the day's equal best score of 150 (Francis Delgado 75, Dennis Atkinson 75) to rocket them from eighth to third in the senior standings but woeful early rounds see the team 16 strokes behind leaders Trinidad and Tobago (460). Second-placed Puerto Rico (463) are three back of the twin islanders going into the final round.

That leaves Cleo Taylor and Herman McDonald to bring home some booty in the superseniors.

The veterans held a four-stroke lead after round one and have maintained it into the last day.

Yesterday they carded a 71 for a total gross of 209. Second-placed Puerto Rico matched that round for a 213 total while Trinidad and Tobago improved a stroke on the leaders with a 70 for 214.

In the overall race for the Arthur Ziadie Trophy, Jamaica (87.5) are third, well behind runaway leaders Puerto Rico (108). Trinidad and Tobago (99) are sitting second.

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