Defending champion Martin hunts more Jamaica Open silverware

HANOVER, Jamaica:

The picturesque Tryall Club in Hanover will come alive this week as the 58th Jamaica Open tees off today.

Headlining the field is defending champion Benjamin Martin of Trinidad and Tobago, who returns to the island looking to successfully defend the title he won in 2024.

The 54-hole tournament gets under way at 7:30 a.m. today and features a competitive field of 42 professional players and 38 amateurs, including senior competitors.

Martin, whose success in Jamaica extends beyond last year’s triumph, enters the week with confidence and fond memories of the host nation.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I have some good memories here in Jamaica,” Martin said.

“Even in the years before winning, it’s a couple of top-five finishes, I think two third-place finishes. So, Jamaica’s been good to me. Beautiful island, nice country. So yeah, nice to be back.”

While pleased to already have his name on the trophy, Martin admitted he would relish the opportunity to prove last year’s victory was no fluke, despite battling the flu during his three rounds en route to the title.

“I could call myself the champion of the event already, but it’d be nice to back it up with another win. You know what I mean? So I wouldn’t say unfinished business, but I’m going to try my best and see where that takes us at the end of the week.”

Commenting on his current form, the Trinidadian said he has been putting in the work to ensure he can produce his best golf when it matters most.

“It’s pretty solid, man. I play between, say, five and 10 tournaments a year, which is not really enough, but I’m a competitor, so I like to have a scorecard in my hand and get things going.”

Hot on his heels will be 2023 champion Andrew Arft of the United States, who is also aiming to secure a second Jamaica Open crown.

Arft enters the tournament feeling rejuvenated by the Jamaican atmosphere.

“I think I got a lot of good golf in me coming up. Been playing pretty well in our Georgia section and, anytime I’m back here, it kind of sparks me, gets me a little bit more excited,” Arft said.

“Love the caddies here. They’ve been super good to me. Ewan’s (Peebles) amazing to me. The whole Jamaican Golf Association, they make me feel like it’s my home when it’s not my home.”

Arft noted that course conditions could require a change in strategy from his previous visits, pointing to the impact of recent weather.

“I think I’m going to have to change my strategy a little bit from the last two times I played in 2023,” he noted.

“There are a couple of trees down from the hurricane that kind of make it a little more accessible on some holes. I think the winning score this year is going to be a little bit lower than the past two or three times. So I think I’m going to have to try to be a little more aggressive off the tee.”

Local fans will also have their eyes fixed on Wesley Brown, who has consistently been Jamaica’s top local finisher over the years.

Brown, who has been working in St Lucia, returns home focused on finally securing a professional victory.

“Nice to be back home,” Brown said.

“The same tenacity, the drive to finally break through and win as a professional. I’ve done it as an amateur, but I’m still yet to cross the bridge. It’s a different level, a different game, different nerves, more expectation, especially being one of the local favourites.”

To lift the trophy on Tuesday, Brown knows he will have to minimise mistakes and take advantage of scoring opportunities.

“It’s going to take you minimising mistakes. It’s going to take you making a lot of birdies.

I played the pro-am today, and the course is playing well. So, if I can get to double digits, maybe 12, 13, I am in contention,” he assessed.

“It’s going to take some really good golf, though, which I do have because I actually just struck the ball well today.”

Other notable players who could be in contention include Cayman Islands golfer Justin Hastings, St Lucia’s Yadhu Urs, Uganda’s Joshua Seale, and American Mac McClear.

The amateur field should feature former national champion Zandre Roye and Oshae Haye, along with veteran local Sean Morris and Barbados’ Xavier Wiggins.