The last two winners of the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) Open to be held at the Tryall Club this weekend are expected to contest the 54 -holes event that is set to get underway on Saturday.

Michael Maguire, who won last year, and Patrick Cover, who won the previous year when the event resumed after the COVID-19 break, have been confirmed for the event that offers a purse of US$100,000.

This year’s staging, organisers said, was expected to see about 100 players, with professionals and amateurs taking part.

Dr Mark Newnham, vice-president of the JGA, said at their recent launch, “we are just so proud, so excited to host this championship.”

“We struggled a little bit with staging this during COVID. Our protocols are going to be a little bit more relaxed this time and we couldn’t be more happier than to stage this our 55th event. The Jamaica Open is our premier event,” he added.

Peter Chin, chairman of the organising committee, said: “We are very happy with where we are now, all the plans are in place, so far so good. We have sponsorship in place. We have the golf course in place. We have players who are registering and paid their entry fees. So far we have 65 players and we are hoping to reach to 100 by tournament day. We are happy that a number of the past winnerS are coming back.”

It was also announced at the launch that the late professional golfer Seymour Rose would be the honoree this year.

Rose won the Jamaica Open three times in 1977, 1982 and 1987, and according to Gordon Hutchinson who made the announcement, “Seymour is really one of the icons of Jamaican golf. “

“We want to remember him. We want him to be associated with Jamaica Open for a long time. His name will always be there on the records as a past winner. Seymour was outstanding because he was such a gentlemen in addition to being a golfer,” Hutchinson said.