By Tym Glaser,
Associate Editor - Sport
Smith
TWO YOUNGSTERS stole the show on the opening day of the National Trials to select the Jamaica team for this year's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships at the Constant Spring Golf Club yesterday.
Teenager Xavier Rose shot a two-over 72 to be third and only four shots off the pace set by national champion John Smith (68) after the first round of the 72-hole qualifying event. Wayne Chai-Chong (69) was second and Owen Samuda (73) was comfortably placed at fourth. However, it was Rose who caught the eye.
He was three under after nine holes before surrendering five strokes on the home stretch.
Possibly even more impressive than the performance of Rose was that of 12-year-old Tiffany Terrier who shares the lead with national champion Maggie Lyn in the Ladies section after round one. They both had 12-over 82s to lead Michiko Asonuma and Leiza Blakeley by a stroke with Australian Anne Telling a shot further back.
Telling's husband, Bill, leads the Seniors by a shot after a solid 74. However, poised a swing back are Dennis Atkinson, Francis Delgado and Tony Hyde. Gordon Hutchinson, riding a rich vein of form, is one more in arrears.
Herman McDonald (74) boasts a five-stroke buffer over Sydney Fletcher going into the second round of the SuperSeniors at the city course today.
Unfortunately, the Trials got off to a controversial start when the rule to not allow caddies was changed after three groups had already teed off.
"How can you change the rules mid-stream," one player, who did not wish to be named, said. "We were strictly told no caddies and then we see other groups with caddies."
SuperSenior and former treasurer of the Jamaica Golf Association Ossie Lee, another of the early starters, was also not amused.
"I find the move in bad taste," Lee, who shot a 16-over 86, said. "The rules must be the same for everybody from the start."
Tournament director David Mais responded: "A problem arose and we fixed it satisfactorily. I have received only one complaint. Caddies will be used for the rest of the event."
