OCHO RIOS, Jamaica — The 14th staging of the Sandals United States Travel Agents Golf Tournament was praised for the stiff competition it produced over two days of action last weekend.

The team of Chris Ward, Lindsay Foerster and the father and son combination of Russel and Cody Hulse scored 121 to take the overall champions title. They scored 59 on Friday and 62 on Saturday.

“Travel agents have to go out and book clients, so that competitive nature is resident within travel agents. It didn’t change when they went on the course — from being the best dressed to being the team and playing their best game,” said Miguel Arthurs, general manager of Sandals Golf and Country Club.

Gary Sadler, Sandals’ senior vice-president of sales, said the repeat golfers help to enhance the competitive atmosphere.

“Over the last 14 years we’ve had teams of people that have made this tournament an annual event; they have not missed one. And there are people with 10 years’ experience and 12 years’ experience and we’ve had a few first-timers. But once you come and really enjoy Jamaica, that’s where the competition starts. So if you lost narrowly last year then you want to win this year, and you do whatever is required. People put in that effort to do so,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Sadler continued: “The golf tournament is an opportunity for travel agents to come to Jamaica and experience Jamaica. In the US we have done 14, in Canada we have done 20 and in Latin America we have done four. It’s not just about golfing, it’s about the music and it’s about Jamaica and about promoting Jamaica’s tourism. A travel agent has the world to sell with some of the finest beaches in the world, so the key is to make Jamaica the destination of choice.”

Janice Allen, the Jamaica Tourist Board regional director for the Caribbean, took part in some of the action on the course, but she said the competition was all about the travel agents.

“The weekend was really about the travel agents, but I had a good Friday and hit the ball quite well, even though I haven’t been playing a lot of golf of late.

“Sandals is a leader in the industry, not just in the Caribbean but in Jamaica… they have this weekend where they highlight the top travel agents in North America. We certainly had to be a part of it because we’ve been partners with Sandals and Sandals is synonymous with Jamaica,” said Allen.

—Sanjay Myers