KINGSTON, Jamaica — With confidence, camaraderie, and Caribbean pride in tow, Jamaica’s junior golf contingent is set to tee off at the 37th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship (CAJGC), slated for July 28 to August 1 at the prestigious Grand Reserve Golf Club in Río Grande, Puerto Rico.
At the forefront of the island’s campaign are two seasoned leaders — Ryan Lue and Mattea Issa — who will anchor a diverse and determined Jamaican team eager to make their mark on the region’s premier junior golf stage.
Veterans at the helm, rookies in the ranks
Lue, competing in the boys’ 18 & under category, and Issa, representing the girls’ 18 & under, bring a wealth of regional and international experience. Their leadership will be vital not only in chasing individual honors but in mentoring the team’s younger players, some of whom will be tackling international greens for the first time.
National coach Jonathan Newnham, who has been diligently preparing the squad, believes this mix of veterans and debutants gives Jamaica a well-rounded edge.
“We’ve been working hard to get the players tournament-ready,” said Newnham. “This year, we have a good balance of experience and fresh talent. I’ll be relying on Ryan and Mattea to help the younger players adapt quickly to what might be an unfamiliar course. The team is hungry, and I’m optimistic they’ll give a strong account of themselves.”
Chasing regional glory: Hank James and age group titles in sight
The championship — which features the Caribbean’s most promising young golfers — also carries with it the prestigious Hank James Trophy, awarded to the top-performing country. Host Puerto Rico, a perennial powerhouse, will be a formidable opponent, but Team Jamaica is setting its sights high.
Jamaica’s best team finish at the CAJGC came in 2018 at home on the Caymanas Golf Club course, and again in 2019 in Nassau, Bahamas, where the team placed second overall. The current team is eager to match — or surpass — those performances.
Full team roster: Boys’ 18 & Under: Ryan Lue; Girls’ 18 & Under: Mattea Issa, Kingston Burke; Boys’ 15 & Under: Kemari Morris, Cameron Coe; Girls’ 15 & Under: Mallaina Williams (debut); Boys’ 13 & Under: Shasa Redlefsen; Girls’ 13 & Under: Alessandra Coe, Francesca Black.
This line-up reflects a blend of tested tournament players and enthusiastic newcomers ready to swing into contention on foreign fairways.
Backing the birdies: Sponsors rally behind Team Jamaica
Support from corporate Jamaica has been strong. The team is backed by a slate of generous sponsors, including the Sandals Foundation, BCIC, Fleetwood, Tile City/Kohler, S Hotel, and others. Their combined contributions, including proceeds from June’s Pinball Golf Tournament, a key annual fundraiser for junior golf, are helping to ensure the team travels well-equipped and well-supported.
As the championship approaches, the team is focused, motivated, and determined to carry the black, green, and gold with pride. With Lue and Issa leading the charge, and with the mentorship of coach Newnham, Jamaica’s junior golfers are primed to swing big and dream even bigger.
“We’re not just going to compete,” said Newnham. “We’re going to contend.”
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