Junior Rodney and Rudolph Willis were left basking in their accomplishment on Wednesday, leading Team 14B to a comfortable four-shot victory over rivals at the 17th annual Sandals United States Travel Agents Golf Tournament at Sandals Golf and Country Club in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Rodney and Willis guided Melissa Muender, Ashely Beady and Angella Hopson along the way, to scores of 66 and 62, for a tally of 128 in the 36-hole two-day tournament.

After grabbing the ascendancy on Tuesday’s first day, Rodney and Willis ensured that their team remained at the summit in the four-man scramble format, despite replacing Beady with Hopson for the final day’s play.

The quartet finished ahead of Team 16B, who tallied 132 after scores of 68 and 64, while Team 1B were a stroke behind in third on 133, following scores of 68 and 65. Teams seven and 8 completed the top five, finishing on 135 each.

Team 16B comprises Rodolfo Arenas, Genith Toledo Carreno, Valdelucia Freire and Albertha Brown, while Donia Davis, Mark Haley, Victor Cochran and Mark Rigby, made up Team 1B.

Team 7 had Theodore Schensnol, Valerie Schensnol, Thomas Ketchum and Caron Ketchum and Team 8 comprised Wallace Haynes, Max Coleman, Daryl Hubbard and Floyd Joseph.

During the presentation ceremony at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Genith Toledo Carreno and Linda Hyde were officially announced winners of the Ladies Closest to Pin and Longest Drive categories, while Ron Wagman and Thomas Ketchum won the men’s equivalents.

Approximately US$1,038 was also raised for the Sandals Foundation through a driving competition, which was won by Jean Wright, who has been a fixture at the tournament for 16 years.

Almost 100 golfers, 50 of whom are first-timers, made up the 23 teams that graced the picturesque course in a tournament that is of great benefit to both Jamaica, as a golfing destination, and Sandals Resorts, as it gives the travel partners a chance to experience the island first-hand and hence be better able to market the destination and facilities to their clients.

Rodney, who also won the tournament in 2015, pointed out that this victory is more rewarding given the circumstances in which it was achieved.

“I think this one is sweeter because we changed team members within the two days, so only three of us were constant for both days because one member was different for each day,” he shared.

Willis was pleased to finally finish tops after years of participating.

“The victory is great, I have been coming here for many years and this is the first time I’ve won. I was runner up in the past, but now I won and this victory is special because I won with two golfers that can’t play that well and we carried them on our shoulders,” he said, before bursting into a laugh.

“But the tournament is great; we are seeing a lot more people now than in the past which means that every year it gets bigger and better. So we are looking forward to next year which again should be great and I hope we can win it again,” Willis added.

Gary Sadler, senior vice-president for Sandals & Beaches Resorts, said the organisation prides itself on promoting Jamaica and the Caribbean as a destination.

“The feedback has been excellent and the travel agents are having a wonderful time. We are trying to renew their confidence in Jamaica as a destination and it is happening and we are very proud of it,” Sadler reasoned. “But the work that constantly happens over this period is due to the involvement of the Sandals Foundation and these very same guests pack for a purpose because we have many schools in the region of St Ann that we are sponsors to.

“So the golfing is one element, but then after this, it is about the Sandals Foundation trying to improve the lives of the Jamaican people as best as we can, especially the kids of St Ann.

— Sherdon Cowan