RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (CMC) — After years of near misses, Jamaica’s Mattea Issa finally secured her first 18-and-under title at the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship to cap off her junior career in triumphant fashion.

The tournament concluded on Thursday at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, with Issa overcoming a two-shot deficit in the final round to claim victory.

Entering the last day trailing Puerto Rico’s Ava Saavedra, Issa delivered a composed performance, carding a three-over-par 75 in the third round to seal the win.

Her three-day total of 15-over-par 231 (83-73-75) was five strokes clear of Puerto Rico’s Victoria Rivera (236), who finished second.

For Issa, the victory was especially sweet after years of falling just short.

“I have finished second in this tournament for many years, and I am so elated that I was able to put some solid rounds together and pull off the win. This means so much, seeing that it’s my last year as a junior.”

While Issa shone in the 18-and-under division, other young regional talents also made their mark. Bermuda’s Darina Betschart dominated the 11-13 flight with an impressive four-under-par 212, while The Bahamas’ Carroll Madison took the 15-and-under title with a three-over-par 219.

Host nation Puerto Rico enjoyed a strong showing, sweeping all boys’ categories and securing the overall team title with 162 points. The Dominican Republic claimed second with 126 points, followed by The Bahamas with 124 and Jamaica rounding out the top four with 100.