Sandals Travel Agents Golf Tourney a big success
OVER 250 travel agents from across the United States and Latin America recently participated in two major golf tournaments at the Sandals Golf and Country Club.
The 11th Annual United States Tournament, which comprised teams playing in foursomes, was won by the team of Patrick Romano, Trip Around the Sun Travel; Brian Rogers, MD Travel; Randy Witherington, Luvin Life Travel, and Jim McAleese of M & M Travel Inc.
Organised in 25 teams of four, participants met on the green and put their skills to the test competing in various competitions throughout the tournament. The winners for each category have been invited to participate at the first ever World Champions Tournament at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas in 2014.
Other winners of their respective categories were:
Closest to Pin Female — Jill Johansen, Travel by Jill & Company;
Closest to Pin Male — Joe Kennedy, Kirkwood Travel;
Longest Drive Female — Ilanta Robbins, YTB Travel Network;
Longest Drive Male — Justin Dunn, Beach Bum Vacation;
Putting Contest — Patrick Romano, Trip Around the Sun;
Best Dressed Team — Noli Tablada, The Travel Bee; Michael Dalao, Gulliver’s Travel; and Luke Majewski and Ronda Rivett from Unique Vacations, Inc.
Most Honest Team Score — Paula Mullins-Worster, First Tee Travel & Promotions; Kelly Klett, Ocean Summit Travel; Kathleen Lawson, Vacation, Cruise & Yacht Co; and Barrie Braem, Vacation, Cruise & Yacht Co.
Runners Up Team — Yoruba Amador, Dawn Schell, William Snyder, Stacie Small, all representing American Express Travel.
In addition to the golf tournament, the agents enjoyed the luxury included experience of Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort where they were hosted, as well as resort tours, meals and cocktails at Beaches Ocho Rios Resort & Golf Club and Sandals Royal Plantation, Ocho Rios Jamaica throughout the event.
The first annual Latin America Travel Agent Golf Tournament brought together 60 travel agents from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and El Salvador.
Winners were Daniel Rodriguez, Rafael Garcia, Monica Cardenas and Jose Magalhaes representing Mexico, Brazil and Bolivia.
Participants enjoyed a weekend of friendly competition, beautiful weather and exclusive activities over the course of the tournament while being hosted at both Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort and Beaches Ocho Rios Resort & Golf Club. This weekend was the first luxury included golf vacation for many and the agents were impressed by Sandals’ renowned hospitality as well as the pristine conditions of the course.
The tournament was comprised of teams of four in a four-man scramble format, along with opportunities to participate in the ‘Longest Drive’ and ‘Closest to Pin’ competitions. Additional games were also held to benefit the Sandals Foundation, raising more than US$700 with fun golf activities like ‘Hit the Target’ and a putting contest.
Off the green agents enjoyed special events including a beach party, welcome cocktails, farewell dinner and an awards function.