Newnham triumphs

AN ecstatic Jonathan Newnham yesterday punched the air and roared in triumph after sinking a birdie to finally win the Jamaica National Amateur Golf Championship at Sandals Golf and Country Club at Upton, St Ann, the title he lost by two holes at Caymanas last year.

"It feels good but it has not quite sunk in. It was a good finish, birdie-birdie," said the Mississippi of University player after going one under on each of the final two holes to finish the third and final day on 70, one under par.

Newnham's overall score of 211, 74-67-70, played over three days, had him finishing two under par, 10 shots clear of Sandals Academy graduates, Oshae Haye and Zandre Roye, who both finished on 221.

However, Haye, who had a better final-day score, 72, clinched the runner-up spot ahead of Roye, 74, in the battle of home-course boys, ages 19 and 20, respectively.

Despite host course Sandals basking in Haye and Roye's second and third-place finish, yesterday belonged to Newnham, who rallied from a three over par first-day score, 74, to fire 67 on Sunday's second day before adding the coup de grace.

"It was a good day. I, struggled on the back nine with a little headache, but I kept the momentum going to score 70," he said.