Jamaica’s next generation of golfers spent the weekend battling fatigue, pressure, and the demands of elite competition as the Jamaica Golf Association staged its junior trials for the 38th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship.
Held at Constant Spring Golf Club in Kingston, the selection event brought together eight players across multiple age categories for a demanding 54-hole examination played over just two days. The field included seven boys competing in the Under-13, Under-15, and Under-18 divisions, along with one girl in the Under-15 category.
While the trials are usually contested over three days, this year’s edition compressed the same volume of golf into a shorter span, creating an added layer of difficulty for the young contenders chasing places on Jamaica’s team for the regional championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
JGA explains shift to two-day format
Junior Golf Chairperson Alison Reid said the revised structure was the most practical solution and offered advantages beyond simple scheduling.
“We decided to have the event over two days, so that means they’re playing 54 holes, but they’re doing it over two days, that means it’s 27 holes each day. This decision was based on a couple of factors. We have the children that come in from Sandals and Ocho Rios and it’s expensive to have them come in three days. So they’d have to come in on Friday and come in on Saturday and then, come again in on Sunday,” Reid said.
“So from that point of view, it was more affordable for the Sandals kids. Number two, they don’t miss a day of school, which is always a good thing. And the third factor is that sometimes in these events due to weather or other circumstances, they actually have to play 27 holes in a day. And it’s something that the kids need to get used to because it’s hard. It’s a different mindset, it changes the game. You have to conserve your energy, you have to hydrate, you have to eat so it’s actually a good learning curve for them, and to be honest, after the fact, all of them said they were fine. They said they were okay and it wasn’t as hard as they perceived it to be.”
The result was a trial that measured not only technical quality, but also stamina, discipline, and the ability to manage a longer competitive day.
Redlefsen rises above the field
Among the weekend’s standout performances, Shasa Redlefsen delivered the clearest statement.
Competing in the Under-15 boys division, Redlefsen posted an overall score of 231 to win the entire trial, outperforming the older Under-18 boys and securing automatic qualification for a team place in the process.
Reid highlighted the significance of his showing. “We had a really good day. Shasa Redlefsen, boys fifteen and under won the entire event with an overall score of 231. He needed 234 to qualify automatically for his spot on the team. So he did that, and he actually beat the 18 and under boys as well by two shots.”
It was the type of performance that instantly elevated him from age-group hopeful to one of the central names in Jamaica’s junior setup.
Scores across the divisions
The Under-18 boys category was led by Kemari Morris, who finished on 233, while Cameron Coe returned 248.
In the Under-15 boys section, Redlefsen’s 231 set the pace, with Jacob Schoor and Cavani James posting 284 and 285, respectively.
The Under-13 boys field saw Jace Sutherland card 233, while Kavar Davis withdrew on Sunday’s final day due to illness.
Alessandra Coe, the lone girl called to the trials, completed her three rounds in 275. She entered the event with an already notable credential, having secured a third-place podium finish at last year’s Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship.
Development section broadens the pipeline
Beyond the main trial, the JGA also used the weekend to invest in the future by introducing a Junior National Trials Development Section.
That segment featured five additional golfers, two girls and three boys, identified as promising talents who may not yet be ready for full regional competition, but are considered strong prospects for the years ahead. Some of those players ended up completing two full rounds instead of the single round initially planned.
The initiative signaled that the association’s focus extends beyond immediate selection and toward building a deeper long-term talent pool.
Regional test awaits in Trinidad
The 38th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship is scheduled to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 28 to August 3, where Jamaica will again seek a breakthrough at the regional level.
The country’s best finishes in the tournament remain the runner-up performances achieved in 2018 at Caymanas Golf Club and again in 2019 at the PGA-rated course in Nassau, Bahamas.
This latest round of trials, then, was about more than simply choosing names. It was about identifying the players capable of pushing Jamaica back toward that level, and perhaps beyond it.
At Constant Spring over the weekend, the road to Trinidad came into sharper focus, with a demanding test revealing both the current standouts and the next wave of talent waiting in the wings
