Jamaica Open Golf Championship tees off for 57th edition with strong international line-up

The Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) officially kicked off the 57th Jamaica Open Golf Championship last Thursday with a celebratory launch at Kingston’s Constant Spring Golf Club.

This highly-anticipated tournament will be hosted at the scenic Tryall Golf Club in Hanover from November 10-12, marking the fifth consecutive year at this venue. The Pro-Am event, a friendly competition pairing professionals with amateurs, will precede the main event on November 9 with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., offering international participants an introduction to the challenging Tryall course.

With 60 players from Jamaica, the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda already registered, including defending champion Andrew Arft from the USA, this year’s championship promises intense competition. The event’s format is stroke play, with players completing 18 holes each day for a total of 54 holes.

Aiming for a prize pool of US$110,000

Some of the main stakeholders (from left) Dr. Carey Wallace, executive director of TEF, Allan Beckfor, general manager at SDF, Peter Chin, chairman of the Jamaica Open organizing committee and Jodi Munn-Barrow, president of the JGA, happily hang on to the event trophy at the launch of the open last Thursday at the Constant Spring Golf Club in Kingston.

Peter Chin, chairman of the Jamaica Open organizing committee, expressed optimism about the growing participation, noting a significant rebound since the pandemic. "We’re excited to see numbers surpassing last year’s. With a full field, we’re aiming for a prize pool of US$110,000, which we hope will attract top talent,” Chin remarked.

This year’s honoree is Jamaican golfer Johnny Bloomfield, a three-time consecutive winner of the Jamaica Open—a feat achieved across two different courses. “Johnny’s accomplishment, with wins at both Caymanas and Half Moon, truly sets him apart,” JGA president Jodi Munn-Barrow explained, acknowledging Bloomfield’s historic achievement as a fitting choice for the tribute.

The Tryall course is set to deliver its signature challenge, with roughs grown in to test participants’ skills. “With the wind factor and the course’s natural difficulty, it’s the ideal setting for a championship of this caliber,” added Munn-Barrow.

Key sponsors

Key sponsors, including the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and Sports Development Foundation (SDF), reiterated their commitment to the tournament’s growth and golf’s development in Jamaica. Dr. Carey Wallace of the TEF highlighted golf tourism’s value, calling the Jamaica Open “the premier international golf tournament in Jamaica.”

Meanwhile, SDF General Manager Allan Beckford emphasized their ongoing support, which extends to community camps for young golfers at the Caymanas Golf Course.

As presenting sponsor for the fifth year, Aqua Bay Resort joins other major supporters like the Jamaica Tourist Board, Grand Palladium, Tryall, and Vybwear, along with product sponsors Wata, Juici Patties, Café Blue, Honey Bun, and Rainforest, who will all play a role in making this year’s Jamaica Open a memorable event for players and fans alike.

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