Tubb still leads, but Bloomfield lurks
ROSE HALL, St James — Despite shooting a one-over 73 on yesterday’s second day of the 46th Lime Jamaica Open Golf championships at Half Moon course, Canadian Oliver Tubb maintained his lead entering today’s final round of the 54-hole event.
After his first day six-under 66, the 28-year-old has a cumulative score of five-under 139 — three shots ahead of Italy’s Marcello Santi, his playing partner over the first two days.
Defending champion Johnny Bloomfield of Jamaica and yesterday’s low-round scorer Shawn Warren are tied for third on one over 145.
Another local player, Fabian Campbell, is the new amateur leader with a six over 150 — three ahead of Radcliff Knibbs, with Keith Stein third on 156.
Tubb, who shot a two-over 38 on the first nine before a one-under 35 coming home, said conditions were tougher than the first day when he was in the first group to tee-off.
“The wind was a little tougher today so your mistakes were amplified and I wasn’t as good and my drivers were a little costly,” he said.
After scoring four birdies, Tubb told the Observer, “I hit some good stuff and had a couple of bad ones, but I hung in there for a 73 and I’m not unhappy.”
Bloomfield had a better day than Thursday when he shot a two-over 74, but was not ready to say he was back in the hunt for his third title.
“I had a better day today and hit a lot of greens in regulation, 15 out of 18 greens, so actually I had a lot of putts, but it still felt like a disappointing day,” he said.
“I didn’t feel like I got a lot out of my game, but it was reasonable score,” he said of his one-under 71, the third best of the day.
Tubb and Santi will be playing partners for the third straight day today, with Shawn Warren rounding out the final group which will tee off at 11:00 am. Bloomfield will be in the group just ahead of them, along with Mathew Donovan and Joe Cioe.
Santi also shot a one-over 73 yesterday to stay second, while Shawn Warren, who along with Mathew Donovan and Bloomfield were the only players under par on the second day, shot a two-under 70.
Warren, who shot three-over 75 on day one, had five birdies yesterday as well as two bogies ,including one on the 18th hole.
