The day-two leaders of the three-day Jamaica Golf Association’s National Amateur Golf Championship, Oshae Haye and Jodi Munn-Barrow, triumphed over the uncharacteristic conditions at Sandals Golf and Country Club in St Ann to be crowned national golf champions.

Haye was particularly happy to be crowned national amateur golf champion for the first time. He battled the defending champion Justin Burrowes and former national champion William Knibbs, but kept his nerve even when the lead kept changing between himself and Burrowes on Saturday’s final day.

Haye entered the third and final day three strokes ahead of Burrowes, and though Burrowes was able to get closer to him by two strokes, Haye was able to hold on for the win by just one stroke to close out the championship and claim his first national championship win.

Haye’s final day scorecard showed a good start with a birdie on hole one but immediately dropped two shots with a double bogey on hole number two. The rest of the card showed three birdies on eight, nine, and hole 16, where he had a two-stroke cushion. He also posted four bogeys on hole seven, 10, 11, and 15. Overall he posted scores of three over par 74, one over par 72, and two over par 73 for a combined score of six over par 219.

“It’s a pleasure winning it because it’s one of the big amateur tournament different from the national trials, so it’s a real pleasure to take the advantage on my home course,” said Haye.

“It was pretty tense out there. I got a birdie on 16. It kinda get me freed up and boosts up a bit coming in for the last few holes. It was actually my home course, but it played pretty different this week because normally we don’t get so much wind,” he said.

Burrowes, though posting his best score on the final day, had to take the runner-up spot with a total score of seven over par 220 on the back of 72, 77, and par 71 for the three days, respectively.

The top five spots were completed by day-one leader Zandre Roy (227 – 71, 81, 75) in third; William Knibbs (231 – 73, 78, 80) fourth; and Dr Mark Newnham (236 – 79, 76, 77) in fifth.

Perennial ladies national golf champion and President of the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) Jodi Munn-Barrow did not disappoint. She was the only female in the top category and played the three days alongside the men. She ended on five over par 221 after scoring three over par 75 on day one and two, respectively, and one under par 71 on the final day.

“We had a very good tournament this weekend. We had 99 players overall for both the 36 hole and the national amateur. We had 35 players in the National Amateur which is very good for us,” said Munn-Barrow.

She added: “I was very happy with my game over the three days, especially today. I held a lot more puts today. I came out with a 71 today, so I am very happy about that. [I] struck the ball fairly well, been working on some stuff today so I just think I am on the right path and I just have to continue to do so.”

The top five men in the Men Super Senior category went to Dorrel Allen (237 – 82, 76, 79); Tony Allison (239 – 79, 78, 820); former JGA President Wayne Chai Chong (240 – 78, 79, 83) and Robert Chin (240 – 76, 81, 83), both tied for third; and Teddy Alexander (252 – 82, 83, 81) ended in fifth.

The other category in the third section of the championship — the professional section — went to Wesley Brown. He posted the best individual score of any of the golfers on the course after putting down a three under par 68 on the second day. He opened with four over par 75 and ended with one under par on 70 on the final day for a combined score of par 213.

“It feels great. It’s always great to win. It’s a home game for me this week. I felt really good about playing on my home soil. The golf course played way difficult than I am used to, lot of wind, tough pin placements, a little firm in spots so you have to go after the ball properly, but overall I felt good coming off with the victory,” he said.

“The guys there were chasing me, was really attacking the golf course, and I played a little bit conservative so that’s why I really had a commanding lead this week. It’s joy, joy inside and I can’t wait to celebrate with my friends and family. It really feels good winning on home soil,” Brown continued.

The other four spots went to Michael Rowe (223 -71, 76, 76); Sean Green (228 – 83, 72, 73); Orville Christis (234 – 72, 77, 83) and Sebert Walker Sr (255 – 87, 81, 79).