- CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior John Smith in action during the second day of the national golf trials at Cinnamon Hill, Rosehall, in St. James. He has a two-day score of 155 (75,80).
Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
MONTEGO BAY:
ENERGY-SAPPING conditions started to take their toll on Jamaica's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship (CAGC) hopefuls at Cinnamon Hill, Rose Hall, yesterday.
While conditions were similar to Friday's opening round of trial action, scores fell off dramatically - particularly in the men's Hoerman Cup section which allows for no cart use and means the players have to walk the hilly course, which will host the 50th anniversary of the CAGC in August.
Two sub-par rounds were recorded on day one but no player was able to crack par-71 yesterday. Owen Samuda (69-72-141), the co-day one leader, and Michael Scott (76-72-148) returned to the clubhouse with one-over 72s to be the pick of the crop while fellow day one leader, Fabian Campbell (69-74-143), performed creditably with a three-over round.
That trio appears locks for the five-man Cup team, but the other two berths are up for grabs between the likes of Narada Black (73-80-153), Rory Jardine (78-78-156), Mark Newnham (75-82-157), Xavier Rose (77-80-157), Carl Bruce (75-83-158), Gifford Wilmot (78-80-158) and Paul Thompson (82-76-158).
TRIPLE BOGEY
Scott, who blew his first round with a triple bogey at the par-four fifth hole, said he played much better yesterday, but still was not pleased with all facets of his game.
"I'm still not hitting the ball as solid as I would like," Scott said. "I'm also not putting great. I'm missing a lot of five-footers and birdie chances," he said.
"I started well today and finished well but there's still work to do. I'm going to work on my driving this afternoon and see if I can get it right for tomorrow."
Samuda said: "I couldn't trust my second shots toward the greens. I wasn't getting the ball close to the hole and that was putting a lot of pressure on the putter.
"You can't call a number, it's an unpredictable game. I just want to stay focused and keep my head down for the next two days," he said.
Maggie Lyn, who missed the first day of action in the women's section, carded a nine-over 80 while playing partner Leiza Blakeley shot - six strokes behind her sister, Jodi Barrow (78-83-161). Those three are almost certain to make the George Teale Trophy team.
In the men's seniors competition, new old boy John Smith followed up his opening 75 with a less than stellar 80, but that was still good enough to extend his lead and all but claim a place on the Francis and Steele Perkins two-man team. Second was Lincoln Williams (88-81-169).
Keith Stein followed his fine first-round of even par-71 with a 77 to remain in charge of the over-35 Ramon Baez Figueroa Trophy team race. The injured Philip Prendergast (77-79-156) is eight shots adrift.
In the super seniors event, Dennis Atkinson (77-78-155) and Harris 'Jolly' Johnson (74-84-158) are the frontrunners.
The Jablum Cinnamon Hill Easter Classic 36-hole event culminates today while the trials end tomorrow. First tee time today is 9:00 a.m.
