THE Mexican team of David Naves, Edgar Lopez, Nora Deschamps, and Carlos Andrade took control after the first of two days of the Latin America Travel Advisors Golf Tournament at Sandals Golf and Country Club in St Ann on Sunday.

The tournament is in its eighth year and is being played over nine holes on both days in a scramble format. This means that teams of four are competing and each member is allowed to hit their ball throughout the match. Team captains choose the best shot from the first stroke and use the same spot for each player.

Naves’ team sits atop the standings on 36 points, followed by Minerva Herrera, Vicente De La Fuente, Tarya Stanton, and Jorge Aragon — an all-Panamanian team — also on 36.

Rodrigo Gimenez, Gustavo Pinasco, Gabriel Ustinelli, and Alvaro Firpo, all of Uruguay, sit third in the standings, also on 36.

The three-member Colombian team of Alfredo Guevara, Andres Moncada, and Joan Osorio is next best with 38 points.

The tournament aims to provide friendly competition for Latin American travel advisors — comprising experienced golfers and newcomers to the sport who want to learn and enjoy the experience of golfing at Sandals — which is considered one of the best courses in the Caribbean.

Eighty golfers across 19 teams representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay were in action on the day. The friendly nature of the event was on display as golfers could be seen enjoying the warmth of the Ocho Rios sunshine on the course while playing and dancing along to reggae and dancehall music throughout the day. There were also sectional prizes for teams including the Best Dressed Team award.

Jake Coldiron, national manager of golf sales, described day one as “a great day of golf”.

“We saw some great team spirit and some awesome costumes and shirts,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

“It was really a great day of golf. The weather was fantastic, the caddies did a great job, and Sandals Golf and Country Club always does an excellent job hosting us. We’re looking forward to a competitive finish to the tournament. Tomorrow we will have a champion, and we’re excited to see that. Can’t wait to see the golfers tomorrow.”

The second day tees off this morning at 8:30.

— Rachid Parchment