Roye’s final-day blitz brings national title

Zandre Roye overcame a strong field to be crowned National Amateur Golf Champion on Sunday at the Caymanas Golf Course in St Catherine. The Jamaica Golf Association’s (JGA) three-day championship was very competitive from the start with single-digit shots separating the top golfers at the end of every round.

The scorecard showed that Roye’s best start came in the third round by way of a birdie but was pegged back by a double bogey on hole number four. The deficit did not last for long as he produced another birdie on the sixth hole to end the front nine on even par 36. The back nine produced two bogeys on holes 10 and 14 for a final-round score of two over par 74, resulting in a winning total of seven over par 223 (75, 74, 74) and two shots clear of Ian Facey.

Roye was very pleased with being national champion for the second time since 2024. 

"I'm elated. Words can't explain. I'm happy. It was good. I came out with an objective for the week. I tried to stay patient, eliminate double bogeys off the card even though I had one today, but I bounced back right away. I stayed patient, and it paid off at the end of the day.”

Facey, the 2015 national champion, topped the leaderboard at the end of the first two rounds by one and two shots, respectively, and looked set to take the win until Roye stopped his ascension with a near-flawless scorecard. Facey eventually bagged the runner-up spot with scores of 74, 73 and 78 for a nine over par 225, to lose by two strokes after entering the final round with a two-shot lead.

Oshae Haye (2022 national champion) who was fourth during the first two rounds jumped to third place on 11 over par 227 (81, 73, 73), ahead of last year’s winner Ryan Lue, who ended the championship on 14 over par 230 (76, 74, 80) in fourth place. 

Dr Tommy Lee was named the senior champion on the back of his total score of 236 for his three rounds. 

Dr Carl Bruce (247) topped the Men & Men Senior 7-12 category by five shots ahead of Geoffrey Browne of the United States on 252. Browne was also five shots ahead of third- place Bruce Levy, who posted 257 for his three rounds.

Former JGA president Wayne Chai Chong (238) led at the end of all three rounds to take the Men Super Senior 0-12 category. Mike Boyd (247) was the runner-up, and Carlyle Hudson (249) copped third place with consistent scores of 83 for each round. 

There were some juniors on the course as well who topped their age group categories. Alessandra Coe (255) topped the Girls 15 and Under, Jacob Schnoor (277) won the Boys 15 and Under, and Jaleel Eccleston (293) led the Boys 11-13 section.

The two-day aspect of the championship yielded several category champions. Otto Steyn of South Africa defeated Matos Mendoza Luis of the Dominican Republic in a tense playoff after both men shot 173 at the end of their two rounds in the Men & Men Senior 7-12 category. Larry Lodenquai (180) topped the Men Super Senior 0-12 section, while Dave Lyn (170) won the Masters section. Amelia Clough (202) bagged the Girls 11-13 age group.

The sponsors for this year’s national championship were Service Solutions Consultants and the Sports Development Foundation.