Jamaica once again proved its golfing dominance, narrowly defeating Trinidad & Tobago by a single point to retain the Ambrose Gouthro Cup at the sixth Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) Four-Ball Golf Championship at Cinnamon Hill Golf Course.
Despite T&T leading by three points after the second round, Jamaica rallied on the final day to finish with 91 points, one ahead of T&T’s 90, while Bermuda secured third place with 79 points. This victory marks Jamaica’s sixth consecutive win, maintaining an unbroken record at every edition of the championship.
A multitalented leader celebrates
Jodi Munn-Barrow, who played multiple roles during the championship as CGA secretary, Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) president, and competitor in the Ladies 25 and over category, expressed delight at the successful event and Jamaica’s triumph.
“Overall it was good,” she said. “The participants had a very good time. We got a lot of positive reviews from everybody that came, and we’re very thankful that we had 92 players — far more than in recent years. Very, very excited and somewhat humbled once again that Team Jamaica came out on top. Trinidad gave us a fight, but our A team got the valuable points we needed, and we’re very pleased.”
Senior men shine: Newnham and Samuda repeat
In the Senior Men (50+) category, Jamaica claimed the Francis & Steele-Perkins Cup, finishing 12 under par 204, ahead of Bermuda’s 217. Dr. Mark Newnham, a six-time champion, partnered with Owen Samuda for a third consecutive victory. Their rounds of 71, 65, and 68 combined for the winning total.
“The special thing about this partnership is that Owen and I don’t spend much time playing together,” Newnham explained. “But there’s chemistry, synergy, and trust. We wanted to defend the trophy at home. After a slow first day, we found our rhythm and shot a blistering seven under on day two. The third day was almost an anticlimax, but we’re proud that every time we play together, we bring out the best in each other.”
Samuda added, “I’m very happy with the victory. Playing with Mark makes things easier — we don’t get down on each other, we pick ourselves up, and that’s what partnership is all about. With that, you can win a lot of events.”
Trinidad & Bermuda make their mark
T&T dominated three categories: the Maria Nunez Trophy (Ladies 25+), the Ramon Baez Trophy (Men 35+), and the Higgs & Higgs Trophy (Men 60+). Jamaica’s Jodi Munn-Barrow and Lisa Gardner finished as runners-up in the Maria Nunez category and also took second in the Ramon Baez Trophy.
Wayne Baptiste, CGA vice president and vice president of T&T Golf Association, praised the competitiveness: “Jamaica is a tough team. It was keenly contested, and we led by three points at one stage. But they played well, and congratulations to them.”
Bermuda captured the remaining two categories — the Dessie Henry Trophy (Ladies 45+) and the Asraph Ali Trophy — while Jamaica finished runner-up in the Dessie Henry Trophy. Jamaica’s A and B teams took fifth and third, respectively, in the Asraph Ali Trophy.
A triumphant homecoming
This edition marked the first time Jamaica hosted the CGA Four-Ball Championship. The narrow victory over Trinidad & Tobago, combined with strong performances in multiple categories, reinforced the island’s position as a powerhouse in regional golf.
