Issa eyes Caribbean Championship after CAC headturner

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic:

In a performance that signalled both her present mettle and her immense future potential, Jamaica’s Mattea Issa closed out the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games with a historic fifth-place finish, using the crucible of elite competition as a stepping stone for greater glory.

Playing four rounds on the demanding, PGA-sanctioned Corales Golf Course in Punta Cana, the young Jamaican star navigated a rollercoaster week that ultimately ended in triumph.

Issa opened with a 79 in round one, found her rhythm with back-to-back 74s in rounds two and three, before signing for a final-round 79.

Her total of 306 (+18) was enough to secure fifth place overall in a fiercely competitive field.

While the podium belonged to Colombia’s Maria Bohorquez, who captured gold with a scintillating 284 (-4), and Puerto Rico’s Maria Fernanda Torres, who took silver at even par 288, Issa stood tall among the region’s best.

Venezuela’s Alexandra Gilly rounded out the medallists with bronze at 294 (+6).

For Issa, however, the leaderboard told only half the story.

“Overall, the CAC Games were an incredible experience,” Issa reflected. “I’m so grateful and honoured to be able to represent my country against the top amateurs in the Caribbean and Central America.”

It was a baptism by fire. The 72-hole event featured not just elite amateurs, but seasoned professionals and an Olympian, a level of pressure that would rattle even the most seasoned competitors.

HISTORIC

Yet Issa, playing in only her second major regional Games, absorbed the lessons and delivered a result that etched her name into Jamaican golf history.

“Overall, I think I did pretty well considering the course conditions and the field,” she said. “I was playing against professional golfers and an Olympian, and coming fifth was something I am proud of, as it is Jamaica’s best finish in the CAC Games for golf.”

The achievement is a testament to her mental fortitude and growing game.

After a shaky start, her ability to post consecutive 74s demonstrated a resilience that bodes well for her development.

There is little time to rest on those laurels. The Jamaica national team is already wheels-up, departing for the Bahamas this week to contest the Caribbean Amateur Championships.

For Issa, the CAC Games were not the destination, but a crucial checkpoint on a longer journey.

“Now I’m just looking forward to the Bahamas for the Caribbean Amateur Championships, where I get another opportunity to represent Jamaica and be part of the national team,” she stated.