SANDY BAY, Hanover — Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) President Jodi Munn Barrow has welcomed news that Aqua Bay resorts, the sponsor of the recently staged 57th Jamaica Open, has plans to expand its commitment to the sport in Jamaica.

Aqua Bay Resorts, the Jamaica Open sponsorship partner for the last five years, announced it will continue under the Vybwear brand, and that it will also enter into a uniform deal for the national golf teams.

During a media briefing held at Tryall Club on November 8, Scott Summy of Aqua Bay unveiled the new line of golf apparel, Vybwear. Each participant in the 54-hole, three-day event received samples upon completion of registration.

“It is good news for the Jamaica Open and the JGA. The Summy family have already advised that they would like to be involved in being a uniform sponsor for the national golf teams in 2025, and will be working on some design options in the new year,” Munn Barrow told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

“This type of partnership augurs well for golf in Jamaica, and hopefully will be a platform for the further growth of the [Jamaica] Open.”

At Tuesday’s awards ceremony Summy said: “We’re excited to bring our clothing brand on board to be a sponsor. And our idea is to take Vybwear, which was born here at Tryall, and to blow that brand up around the country, around the world, and have it take over the full sponsorship of the Jamaica Open,” he said.

“And, we’ll also be looking at doing some other things to help, maybe, the Jamaica national teams that compete in golf that are out of here.”

Summy said the association with the Jamaica Open is a positive.

“I think it’s been great, obviously. This is our fifth year, and we’re very happy with the tournament. We love the Jamaica Open golf tournament. And part of what we like is, we love the beauty of Tryall, the beauty of Jamaica, the beauty of the people, and then we love to see people from all over the world that come here and compete in the Jamaica Open.”

Trinidadian Benjamin Martin overcame stomach issues on the first day to win his maiden JGA Open title. He shot a seven under par 209 score to win by one stroke over Canadian Jacob Lehman.

— Paul A Reid