OWEN Samuda and Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) President Jodi Munn-Barrow bagged the respective male and female categories of the AMG Buccaneer Memorial Golf Tournament at Caymanas Golf Club in St Catherine last weekend.

Samuda has been having a very good run after winning the Brooklyn Open in the United States, and Caribbean Golf Association’s CGA Four-Ball Championships. He was on the way to winning the Senior Amateurs section of the 57th Jamaica Open before he missed his tee time on the final day. He carded two outstanding rounds of one under par 71 each day of the tournament to post a runaway two under par 142 to win by 13 strokes.

“After a disappointment in the Jamaica Open last week I realised that you can’t drive a car and look behind you — [because if you do you] are not gonna realise what’s in front — so I just put that behind me. [I] came into this tournament with a lot of confidence and more positive thoughts in my head. I played really well [both days], and I even played much better [on the second day], so I really feel good about the win,” Samuda said.

“I am very pleased with my game. I am hitting the ball really well — and my opponents even said that to me when they were finished — and I am really proud of myself [for] coming back and winning this event.”

He was the only golfer to post under par scores in the tournament.

Former national champion Oshae Haye was second on 11 over par 155. Two other former national champions, Zandre Roye and Sean Morris, were tied for third place after scoring 14 over par 158 over the two days.

Munn-Barrow occupied her usual spot at the top of the female leader board after sending down scores of three over par 75 each day, for a total score of six over par 150, to win the Ladies category. Michele McCreath was 21 strokes back on 171 in second place.

“I think it was a little bit more difficult this time. I haven’t been playing because I have been dealing with the Jamaica Open so my game this weekend was scrappy, but I did get it around. I got the ball around and I am happy with how I managed, because I know I didn’t have my best, but I still was able to put up two good rounds of golf. I am very happy with the outcome of the two days,” said Munn-Barrow.

There were numerous category winners at the end of the tournament which attracted over 80 golfers. These included Quentin Hugh-Sam and Philip Gooden who scored 168 each to win the Men & Men Senior 7-12; Gifford Wilmott – 157 to top the Men & Men Senior 13-24; Philip Prendergast and Mike Glieckman – 151 each to jointly take the Men Super Senior 0-12; Guyan Arscott – 192 for the Men Super Senior 13-24 category. The Masters category went to Tony Gooden with a score of 169. The other Ladies’ category, Ladies 13 and over, went to Diane Hudson with a combined score of 184. Additionally there were some juniors in the field. Boys 18 & U – Davin Hogan – 175; Boys 15 & U – Kemari Morris – 163; and Boys 11-13 – Shasa Redlefsen – 159. The final category was the Girls 14-15 – Alessandra Coe with a score of 177.

The charity event was being held for the 29th year. It is held annually in memory of seven of Jamaica’s outstanding past national representatives, namely Milton “Buddy” Josephs, Izette Rhone, Lenan “Lennie” Chin, John Fulford, Al Chong, Claude Stewart, and Mark Chin — former captain of Buccaneers Golf Club.

“This tournament has been playing since the 1990s, and that makes it the oldest golf tournament outside of the Jamaica Open and the Jamaica Golf Association calendar. Most of the proceeds of this event goes to the Lawes Street Trade Training Centre,” said Peter Chin, president of Buccaneers Golf Club.

“Every year we try to meet a million-dollar target. This year we were challenged because of the weather. A number of players, especially outside of Kingston, didn’t come because they were very uncertain about the weather but we are going to try our best to still meet the target.”

AMG Packaging is the title sponsor while Scientific & Medical Supplies is the associate sponsor.