Eales maintains Jamaica Golf Open lead
... Ja’s Bloomfield in contention
WESTERN BUREAU:
JOHN BLOOMFIELD faded after a decent start on Day Two of the 15th Jamaica Open Golf Championship at the Half Moon Golf Course in Montego Bay, closing with a bogie to hand tournament leader Paul Eales a four-stroke lead over the Jamaican heading into the final day.
Eales is 4 under-par 140 for the championship after his 72 on the day but struggled early with the heavy winds before picking up with some lovely shots on the back nine to end with a smooth birdie on the final hole to take back the momentum that had swung Bloomfield’s way earlier on Day Two.
Bloomfield, who has 144 for the championship, meanwhile, entered a one over-par for the day (Even-par for the championship), cutting Eales’ lead to two strokes before an awful back nine to include a bogie at the 18th to share second with American Kenny Goodykoonts with one over-par 73.
They are joined in second place by Tom Gillis, whose round of 72 also puts him at even-par.
Only two players, Brad Adamanis and Canadian Dustin Risdon, 1 under-par 71, managed to break par on a day that was blustery, chilly, and rainy at times.
GOOD FINISH
“It was a good finish today for me again like yesterday, making some birdies coming home. I was a little fortunate at 16 with a chip in there and then a beautiful birdie at the end there,” said Eales.
“I made a bit of a mess on 11, 12, and 13, where I dropped shots, but I made it up on the back, so I am happy with how I ended,” he said.
Weather apart, Bloomfield is expected to make a major push for the lead on today’s final day and if he manages to score as well as he did on the early holes as he did over the last two days, it could make for another spectacular finish.
Bloomfield told The Gleaner that there was plenty of tough golf ahead and that he would be doing his best to climb up the leaderboard and challenge for what would be his third Jamaica Open crown.
The next best placed Jamaican is Orville Christie, who is at 12th, scoring a 76 on the day for his six over-par.
Barbadian Alex Sandeman had it real tough to close on 80 and 8 over the two days in a golf tournament that will not get any easier with winds and more rain in the forecast for today’s final round.
Jamaicans hold the top five places in the amateurs, with Owen Samuda firing a 78 round that is only good enough for 9 over-par, seven strokes ahead of compatriots Ricardo Perry 79 (+16), with Oshae Haye 83, eight shots back (+17), and Romaine Evans 83 (+18).