LIMA, Peru — Jamaica’s Zandre Roye and Oshae Haye are heading into the 11th Latin America Amateur Golf Championship (LAAC) with a determined outlook, confident that preparation and past experience will position them well for the prestigious tournament at the Lima Golf Club, which gets underway on Thursday.
Both golfers, who have represented Jamaica in previous editions, will rely on experience as they aim to navigate four demanding rounds and a competitive field of over 100 golfers from 28 countries.
Course assessment and strategy
Following Tuesday’s first of two practice rounds, Roye praised the state of the course while noting its challenges.
“The golf course is in pretty good condition. A few holes are a little bit challenging, just got to map it out and plan the best strategy going forward for the championships,” he said. “The game is playing pretty well. Hitting the ball pretty well, and with the right game plan heading into the week, yeah, I like my chances of playing well.”
Roye’s analysis reflects the careful tactical approach both he and Haye plan to take as they prepare to face a strong international field, including Barbados, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as hosts Peru, Argentina, and Mexico.
Overcoming hurricane challenges
Preparations for the championship were disrupted by Hurricane Melissa, but Roye said the team remained mentally focused.
“It’s always a pleasure representing the country. Every time we get to wear the colors in competition, it is a special feeling,” Roye explained. “This tournament is a cut above the rest. This is one of the biggest amateur events on the planet, and to represent the black, green, and gold in this year’s championship is special.
“This is my third time playing the event. The first two times, I didn’t fare so well, but preparations coming into this event were good despite the country facing a category five hurricane in October. That kind of slowed down our prep a bit, but myself and Oshae managed to make do with what we had. We tried to get as many rounds in as possible and mentally prepare for the competition. We’re in the right frame of mind to go out and represent, do our best, and hopefully see where that takes us by the end of the week.”
Experience meets determination
Roye will be competing in his third LAAC, while Haye is participating for the second time. Both aim to navigate the early rounds successfully and make the cut after the first two rounds, a milestone required for a chance to compete in the final two rounds.
Success at the championship carries high stakes: the winner earns an invitation to the Masters Tournament, as well as exemptions into The Open and the U.S. Open, underscoring the event’s prestige and significance.
With strategy, preparation, and prior experience on their side, Roye and Haye head into the week with cautious optimism and a shared goal of putting Jamaica on the leaderboard in one of the world’s top amateur golfing events.
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