Month: December 2023

SMILES at the The Italy Booth at this year’s International Culture, Wine and Food Festival.

DR ALBERTO SUIGHI, the honorary consul general from Italy, and some of the young people in the Eleuthera Sailing Academy in Savannah Sound.

#NOW a tradition, members of the resident Italian community come together each year to donate their time and efforts at the International Culture, Wine and Food Festival (ICWFF).

#The 26th festival, held in October at Fort Charlotte, was a delight for attendees. All proceeds from the Italy booth are donated to a worthy cause each year.

#This year, the team led by Dr Alberto Suighi, the honorary consul general from Italy, selected The Eleuthera Sailing Academy in Savannah Sound.

#As an organisation, the Eleuthera Sailing Academy supports the Bahamian national sport of sailing by teaching those in the community interested in learning to sail.

#The programme currently has over 35 kids involved, with the most advanced training to represent The Bahamas both nationally and internationally.

#Outside of sailing, the programme also teaches kitesurfing, windsurfing and more promoting the love of the ocean and natural environment.

#Impressed by the efforts of the sailing academy programme, the enthusiasm and guidance of Mrs.Laura Paine and the positive impact of the sport for the youths of Eleuthera, the Italian community pledged to support by sponsoring an additional 10 local children to join the programme in 2024.

#During a special presentation at the academy in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Dr Suighi met with several young sailors and their coach.

#Head coach Martin Marinque thanks the Italian community for their support as the academy is in constant need of materials for repairs and maintenance as well as equipment like sails and boat parts.

#“Italy is a great example of a country where sports play a huge role in the youth, and is right now the biggest country in youth sailing!

#“We are confident that the community understands the benefits that sailing can bring to the youth of Eleuthera,” Martin stated.

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023

Honouring our top athletes

ROADRUNNERS TRACK CLUB’S 23RD ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET @ SANDALS

As of Thursday, December 14, 2023

Photo Gallery

Roadrunners Track Club

#A number of student athletes from the Roadrunners Track Club were honoured on Saturday night at Sandals Royal Bahamian as the club hosted its 23rd Annual Awards & Presentation Banquet.

#Under the patronage of Rev Diana Francis, senior pastor at First Baptist Church, the event was held using the theme: “Chosen to Rise Up,” song “Rise Up” and scripture text from Isaiah 40: 29-31,” which were all selected by Chayanna Hepburn, one of the under-13 girls’ Athlete of the Year.

#Joining Hepburn as Athletes of the Year in the various age group categories were Kenna Smith, under-7 girls; Kasey Rolle, under-9 girls; Jehiani Major, under-11 girls; Jasmine Thompson, under-15 girls; Tamia Taylor and Akaree Roberts, both under-17 girls and Jada Bridgewater, under-20 girls.

#The male athletes of the year were Edvardo Burrows, under-9; Ronald Simon, under-11; Dukari Fulford, under-13; Shawn Ferguson, under-15; Trent Ford, under-17 and Temar Davis, under-under-20 Awards were also presented to the most outstanding athletes. On the female side, the winners were Aliyah Henfield, under-7; Teshan Williams, under-9; Lavaeh Johnson, under-11; Azalia Henderson, under-13; Denika Gittens and Shannon Edwards, under-15 and Katranel Dean, under-27.

#On the boys’ side, the winners were Adyen McDonald, under-13; Ashley Demeritte, under- 15; Ethan Stuart, under-17 and Desmond Harris and Malcolm Williams, both under-20. The Dominique Higgins award, presented to the student athletes with grade point averages of 4.00, were presented to Chyanna Hepburn, Waynedeshia Douglas, Moreon Roberts and Gabrielle McLean. The club also honoured parents of the year Tino and Kissie Wilson and Joyce McKenzie. Among the dignitaries on hand, along with Rev Francis, were Mr and Mrs Harrison Petty, Dr Shantel and Travee Missick, Mr and Mrs William Delancy, Mrs Patrice and Sunae Adderley and Phil Smith of The d’Albenas Agency Limited.

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023

Golfers Robinson and Riley have eyes on national title

GOLFERS DEVAUGHN ROBINSON, left, and Cameron Riley are aiming to win the Bahamas Professional Golf Association’s national championship title. The prestigious event is scheduled to run from Thursday to Sunday at the Ocean Golf Club on Paradise Island.

As of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Devaughn Robinson and Cameron Riley are both coming home with the same goal in mind. They want to win the prestigious Bahamas Professional Golf Association’s National Championship title and earn the rights to represent the Bahamas at the two Korn Ferry Golf Tour events in Exuma and Abaco in January.

#Vernon Lockhart, championship chairman of the BGF, headed by Glen Pratt, indicated that all signs are pointing to a very competitive tournament that will run from Thursday to Sunday at the Ocean Golf Club on Paradise Island.

#With this being the 50th anniversary of the BGF, Lockhart noted that they have combined the men, ladies and senior divisions with the floating trophy for the low total score turned in by any player being presented in memory of Leroy ‘Roy’ Bowe, the first Bahamian professional. The men’s trophy will be in honour of Donald ‘Nine’ Rolle, the first Bahamian pro winner, while the senior men’s trophy is in honour of the late Jim ‘The Swingman’ Duncombe and the ladies’ trophy will be held in honour of Francis Dunn, the first Bahamian female pro golfer.

#Georgette Rolle-Harris, the head golf pro at Baha Mar, and Racquel Riley from Grand Bahama are the only two females participating, while the senior pros are Chris Lewis, Glen Pratt, Vernon Lockhart and Greg Maycock. Robinson and Riley head the list of men who will round off the anticipated field of 15-20 golfers.

#“What we are trying to do is to get the association back on its feet,” Lockhart said. “The association has been dormant for so long and it’s time that we put it on the right footing where we are able to control professional golf in the country.

#“Because it’s been stagnant for so long, things have happened and we have no control over it. So we need to get the association back up and functioning properly. That is the same function.”

#While the event is designed for 72 holes, at the end of the first 36 on Thursday and Friday, the low male professional will gain the exemption for the Exuma Korn Ferry and the male finishers in the final 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday will gain the spot for the Abaco Korn Kerry.

#Robinson, who won the first qualifying tournament to earn the rights to compete in Exuma, said he wants to win again.

#“My game is not as good as I want it to be, but I feel I’m gaining confidence in it every day,” said Robinson. “Ocean Club is a course I know and love to play on, so I just have to manage it well and take advantage of the errors in my game.”

#With both Exuma and Abaco on the line, the 35-year-old Robinson said he might as well go for both spots. He’s also thrilled with the fact that the BPGA is putting the national title on the line as well.

#“I’m happy that the BPGA is bringing the Nationals back and the title is up for grabs,” he said. “It’s something we haven’t done in a long time. We didn’t have the leadership that we have now in Glenn Pratt.

#“He wants us to take golf to the next level and I think we have the talent to do it. So with his support, we are going to try and get it done. This is a step in the right direction to achieving that goal.”

#Riley, who is coming in from Orlando, Florida, said he’s up for the challenge.

#“I expect to compete and play to the best of my ability at the Ocean Club Golf Course,” he said. “My game is in a great spot right now, so I’m planning on taking the tournament one shot at a time and letting everything else work out, controlling what I can control.”

#In preparation for the tournament, Riley said he’s made some changes over the past month that he’s seen some results with.

#“I’ve prepared very intentionally and hard for this event and I’m confident in myself and my abilities going into it,” he stated.

#The 24-year-old admits that his aim for the tournament is a very simply one.

#“I am shooting to win the championship and win both spots for both the events in January,” he said. “They are huge events that can springboard my career and the more experience I can get playing at the highest level, the better for me.”

#Over the past year, Robinson and Riley have been participating in the Advocates Professional Golf Circuit where they competed in about 12 events during the course of the season, in addition to four invitationals from California to Philadelphia.

#“I had a really good start in the season, but I sort of fell off a bit during the year,” Robinson pointed out.

#“But I had some really good showings with some really good scores, so I’m hoping to use what I learned to build as I improve a little more for next year.”

#Like Robinson, Riley too has been playing in the Advocates Professional Golf Circuit.

#He admitted that “it’s been an up and down year, but I’ve had more successes than failures. I’m looking forward to coming home and competing on a course that I competed on as a kid.”

#Lockhart, on behalf of the BPGA, which includes Pratt, Riley, the first female president now the secretary and former president Lewis, who is now the executive director, thanked Insurance Management for putting up the trophies and the Ocean Cluib for hosting the event.

#“We want to make an appeal to the wider golfing community, if they can still assist, we are still looking for a little sponsorship money,” he said. “We have prize money from the registration for all three categories, but if anyone wants to assist in increasing the funds, we will gladly accept the donation.”

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023

Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy ends the year on a high note

As of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@D tribunemedia.net

#THE Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy closed out the year on a high note with a drive, chip and putt end-of-year celebration at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s practice facility on Saturday.

#The celebratory event came on the heels of the return of the Front 9 golf tournament series at the end of November which was its first hosting since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

#On Saturday, golfers and their loved ones, who got the opportunity to partake in three different skill exercises for a friendly contest, were treated to a complimentary pot luck and reconnected with each other to end the year.

#Georgette Rolle-Harris, founder of the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, felt the year end celebration was a great way to cap off a busy golf season. “It was a great way to finish a very busy season. We offered this drive, chip and putt event complimentary to all of our players and their families so it was a really great time for the kids. We had some golfers that went to enjoy the bouncing castle or the 360 photo booth after completing the drive, chip and putt exercises so it was just really good to see them have fun with each other,” the founder said.

#The friendly skills competition allowed competitors to attempt the drive, chip and putt exercises three times and the point total from each was added together to determine a victor of the contest.

#For the men’s category, Danny Davis scored the highest total with 103 for the trio of events. He earned scores of 17 (drive), 36 (chip) and 50 (putt) to become the winner. Ron Haynes placed second with 94 and Malcolm Adderley finished third with 67.

#The third place finisher was very pleased to attend the event and witness the first-hand growth of Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy.

#“It is crazy to see how far the junior programme has grown because I was in the programme at 16 when Georgette first started and to see the growth has been remarkable. Overall, I enjoyed the event and putting was my favourite part of the three,” Adderley said.

#Payton Haye wrapped up the year-end friendly contest in first place with a score of 78 to lead the ladies. Nathalee Tynes, who earned the most points with 19 for the drive, capped off with 59 points for second.

#Lori Greaves and Denise Poitier trailed both competitors for a third place tie with 45 points apiece.

#Jacara Forbes picked up the most points with 104 for the 13-15 girls. She led the way for competitors, scoring a 65 in the putt exercise, 27 for the chip, and 12 for the drive. Maddison Carroll rounded up 72 points on Saturday for second and Chemari Pratt collected 65 points for third.

#Forbes was happy with her efforts, especially for the putting portion of the day. “It feels pretty good. I felt that I did pretty well in the putting event. The chipping event was the best for me and it stands out because I can hit high and low shots which really helps me with my skills,” she said.

#Haley Hall finished atop the girls 10-12 division with a score of 87. Zamira Swann earned 60 points for second place and Mirah Nunn settled for third with 57 points.

#Hall was pleased with not only the victory but being able to reconnect with fellow golfers.

#“The event was great I got to see a lot of players that I have not seen in a long time and it has been good connecting with them again. Putting is my favourite event but I was not able to do well today but I was pretty proud of the chipping event,” she said.

#It was a rivalry among relatives for the girls 7-9 division. Zion Poitier narrowly edged out Zaire Poitier with 82 points compared to 81 points for first place. The latter took the second podium spot, meanwhile Londyn Strachan was third with 56 points.

#Jermany Dawkins was the lone competitor in the 6 and under division. She totalled 28 points.

#For the boys, Andrew Benjamin earned bragging rights in the 16-18 age group after finishing with 100 points for first. Angelino Cooper amassed 67 points for second place.

#Rashawn Hanna stood tall on the winner’s podium after racking up 115 points to lead competitors in the 13-15 division. Juan Wilson took second and Zachary Joseph finished third.

#Briland Cunnigham was most successful in the 10-12 age group with 62 points for first. Reef Harvey was victorious in the 7-9 division and Luca Greaves performed the best in the 6 and under division.

#With the year almost entirely in the rearview for Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, Rolle-Harris is looking forward to an active 2024 golf season.

#“We are hitting the ground running early January with another drive, chip and putt event then some scramble tournaments which will then propel us into pro golf championships and the US kids’ tour. I see a lot of tournament golf in the future for our players to test and grow their skills,” she said.

#The Front 9 golf tournament series resumes next year on January 10.

Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy ends the year on a high note

As of Wednesday, December 13, 2023