By Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
Ziadie
ARTHUR ZIADIE'S 14-year tenure as president of the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) will face its first challenge today at the association's annual general meeting at the Constant Spring Golf Club.
Ossie Lee, former treasurer of the JGA, has thrown down the gauntlet and will challenge Ziadie while also compiling a slate which puts forth nominees for each major position on the JGA committee.
Staunch lobbying on both sides has apparently been carried out over the past few weeks and Ziadie is confident he will be returned as the man in charge of golf in the island.
"I am very confident I will be voted back as president," Ziadie said yesterday. "I am very positive and a lot of people can't understand the campaign slogans against us," he said.
"We bring to the table proven performance, consistency, experience and a future plan for the game in Jamaica."
Challenger Lee is equally confident going into today's 5:15 p.m. showdown.
"I was asked to go forward (for the presidency)," Lee said. "I'm not worried one way or the other if I win or lose. This is a wake-up call for the JGA.
"The sponsors have turned off them and many of the members as well and it's time for a change."
While the focus will be on the battle for presidency, the hottest contest could be for the vice president position. Incumbent Balmain Brown will not run and Ziadie has endorsed long-time JGA secretary Gordon Hutchinson. Also in the race are David McNulty, a member of Lee's camp, David Mais and Mike Darby.
Current treasurer Al Stona will be challenged by William Brown (Lee camp).
Herman McDonald, another Lee supporter, will take over Hutchinson's role as secretary unchallenged while McNulty, Leiza Blakeley and Teddy Richards have been nominated for the assistant secretary post.
Gradle Grant and Barbara Sampson have been put forward for the role of ladies representative.
A healthy number of JGA members have renewed their subscriptions over the past few weeks suggesting the AGM will be well attended and the vote for posts tight.
