Bloomfield - File
Western Bureau:
The much-anticipated 46th staging of the 54-hole Jamaica Open Golf Cham-pionship will commence at the Half Moon Golf Course in Montego Bay this morning at 8 o'clock, with a solid 64-strong international field vying for the lucrative US$14,000 winner's purse.
Defending champion, Jamaica's Johnny Bloomfield, with back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2008 (the tournament was not staged in 2007), will be gunning to make it three straight as he seems not to be intimidated by a strong field, which features golfers from the United States, Canada, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland, Barbados and the Cayman Islands.
"I am looking forward to putting in a very good performance," Bloomfield stated in a radio interview earlier this week. "This is a tournament I have always enjoyed playing in."
In addition to the prestigious trophy and lucrative prize package for the winner, the other top six finishers will also be in line to walk away with a decent pay cheque from the overall prize package of US$70,000. The second-place finisher will take home US$8,000, third US$5,500, fourth US$4,000, fifth US$3,000 and sixth US$2,600.
New deal
On Tuesday, Errol Miller, regional vice-president, corporate communications of sponsor LIME, announced a new two-year deal for two years, starting this year. This year's package is valued at $3 million.
"We are very proud to be associated with this historic event," Miller stated. "There is no question that this event is seen as a testing ground for young golfers, including Bruce Fliescher, who went on to become a major force on the senior Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour after being a regular at the Jamaica Open."
Seeking the tournament
Among the golfers who will be seeking to wrestle the coveted title away from Bloomfield - whose international résumé is expanding steadily - are the likes of Dermot Warren, the local-based professional who finished second to Bloomfield on his debut appearance last year; and Michael Bennett, of the 'Stack and Tilt' golf swing, who finished fourth last year.
The championship, which is being staged at a cost of US$100,000, will end on Saturday with the awards ceremony immediately following the end of the championship.