Junior golf challenge for champ

This three-day competition tees off at 7 am.

Baynes, a three time winner, is off at 9.10 while Florida, US-based Hamel-Smith follows him 10 minutes later.

They are expected to be seriously challenged by a troop of juniors who are on the national team including Ben Martin, Mitchum Jasper and Aldoray Downes.

The seniors will also share the spotlight with players who are in the Hoerman Cup team, which is due to take place in Jamaica next month. Yesterday Kevin Boyko, the director of coaching at Millennium Golf and Country Club at Trincity, an American PGA certified coach conducted a group clinic for the juniors at the practice range of the Plantations Golf and Country Club.

The clinic, attracted 30 youngsters and several parents also attended and started at 9.30 am in pleasant conditions under cloud cover spiked with sporadic bursts of sunshine.

The course is in immaculate condition and neither too fast nor too sluggish.

The Tobago coaches are working with the US PGA coach and the enthusiasm of the youngsters was impressive.

Ricky Campbell, who is responsible for the development of junior golf in Tobago is sure that the clinic will generate greater enthusiasm for the game among the young players on the island.

After the clinic plans were already afoot to get the young Tobago players over to the Millennium Golf Club for further coaching and exposure to different playing conditions.