SPORTS
Dates: June 12-15
Site: Oakmont Country Club, suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Length: 7,349 yards
Par: 70
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025
Cut: Top 60 and ties
Davis Cup team is ‘better day by day’
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
Teeing It O
They still haven’t found out where and when they will play their American Zone Four Tie, but the Bahamas men’s Davis Cup team is making sure they will be ready when the time comes.
at Ror y McIlroy is ters champion and the 25 years to join the sive list of players with Or that Scottie Schefself as the best player
The quartet of Denali Nottage, Michael Major Jr, Donte Armbrister and Kofi Bowe continue to work out together at the John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar in anticipation of the tie.
has ever yone s attention mont.
Playo (if necessary): Two-hole aggregate immediately after 72 holes are completed
Field: 156 players
Purse: TBA Last year: $21.5 million
Defending champion: Bryson DeChambeau
Last year: Bryson DeChambeau got up-and-down from 55 yards away in a bunker, making a 4-foot putt for a 1-over 71 and a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No 2. McIlroy had n the round but bogeyed st four holes That included 30-inch par putt on the 16th ar putt just inside 4 feet on DeChambeau captured his Open
At yesterday’s session, they were all upbeat as they went through a vigorous training session, albeit without a coach or captain as the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has yet to name one.
ownes built is tough as ways has been. e last at a U.S. Open was by akmont in 1927. e close since then? Also
For each player, it’s just a matter of making sure that they stick together and practice together as a team, despite all of the uncertainties.
ave to do much to e toughest test in the U.S. Open for the 12-15, and there’s a reason re more than any other
“The practices have been going great. We’re just
aces in our game
rst tee and you look and it s just meant to kmont is that place It en ” said John B odenpionships o cer for the e best in the world and s willing to go through
By BRENT STUBBS
AFTER about a 19-year hiatus, the Bahamas Cycling Federation returned to Exuma to host its National Cycling Championships over the weekend.
And, according to secretary general Barron “Turbo” Musgrove - the event organiser - they had the greatest participation of junior competitors in action ever, not just from Exuma, but New Providence and Grand Bahama.
he tr pun him back at the start of his season. He is in full stride going into the U.S. Open. Schefer has won three of his last four tournaments by a combined 17 shots. at includes the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow A victor y at Oakmont would send him to the British Open next month for a shot at the career Grand Slam.
getting better and better day by day,” said Nottage, who sits right now as the top seeded player on the team by virtue of winning the BLTA’s annual Giorgio Baldacci Tennis Tournament in December.
over the past few weeks, they have been putting in the work together.
Oakmont: Dustin Johnson 1-under 69 to rally from a cit and won his rst major in Open He won by three shots a two-shot penalty after the or his ball moving on the fth line (BetMGM Sportsbook): e er, +300; Rory McIlroy, DeChambeau, +800; Jon +1100; Xander Schau ele, +1600 mmed: This is Phil Mickelson’s ligibility for the U.S. Open major keeping him from the Slam and he has not nished tie for 28th in his 10 previous getting the last leg
Noteworthy: Oakmont is hosting the U S Open for the 10th time, the most of any course
“We had the Nationals in Exuma some 18-19 years ago and so, as the federation starts its redevelopment programme throughout The Bahamas, we are going to host the Nationals in various islands where it is possible for them to accommodate us,” Musgrove said.
Although it’s not known exactly how they will play during the tie, Nottage, who plays on the pro circuit, said they have decided to work on their doubles strategies during the practices.
B R YSO N I S B AC K
“We’ve been practicing, working on our chemistry, so when we go off, we will be able to represent the country to the best of our abilities,” said Armbrister, who just graduated this year from Hampton University.
For all the talk about Oakmont’s toughness, Winged Foot in New York is another brute of a U.S. Open test. at’s where Br yson DeChambeau blasted away o the tee and powered wedges out of the rough. He set the
“We’re training every day, but we’re just hoping that we don’t end up playing on clay because that could throw us off a bit,” said Nottage as they currently train on hard courts.
For Armbrister, who earned his spot during the recent tournament this year at the NTC as well to complete the team, said
Bowe, considered the rookie member of the Davis Cup team, said he’s just thrilled to be making his debut with such a talented group of players, whom he’s been around since he started playing tennis.
Phil Mickelson made his U.S. Open debut in 1990, one year a er McIlroy was born. Only one of them has the career Grand Slam. Mickelson is 0-for-33 in the U.S. Open, and this might be his last chance at age 54. His ve-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship runs out this year He already accepted one special exemption from the USGA right before he won the PGA, and that counts. Seve Ballesteros is the only player to have received more than one special exemption without having won the U.S. Open.
There are some lighthearted moments during the practices, but they are also intense, according to Armbrister, which makes each session that much tougher.
“Every practice, we’re here giving it our all,” he said.
“For this level, we will probably play in the summer, so we have some time. We just need to make sure that we are ready as a team.”
“It’s been good since this has been a year since I played in college,” said Bowe, who graduated last year from Johnson C Smith University. “In the past couple of months I’ve had some hard training with these guys.
“And every day, it seems we’re getting stronger and stronger as a team. This is a good group of guys. We have been around since we were juniors and now we are getting a chance to play at the highest level for the country. So I’m proud to be on the team with them.”
Mark Lawrie meets with stakeholders in the Bahamas Golf Federation
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
IN his bid to help improve the growth of the sport in the country, Mark Lawrie met with various stakeholders in the Bahamas Golf Federation yesterday.
The meetings, which took place at the BGF’s Driving Range and NineHole Golf Course at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, were considered to be very productive.
BGF’s first vice president Anthony Hinsey facilitated the meetings with members of the Flamingos Golf Club, the 242 Golf Academy, the University of the Bahamas and the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy.
Lawrie, the regional managing director of the Latin America & Caribbean of R&A, the governing body for the sport, said he was pleased with every meeting that took place.
“I think there’s a genuine interest from all of the stakeholders in The Bahamas to move it a notch up,” Lawrie said.
“There’s obviously one underlying factor they are
all experiencing and that is gaining access to the local golf courses. We are aware of this and we are hoping that we will be able to help. But we need to get people on the golf courses to be able to get hooked on and become golfers.”
Once the BGF can grow its numbers to over 700 registered golfers, The Bahamas has the potential to broaden its horizons.
Lawrie said R&A will be making a contribution for its improvement to allow more local competitors to participate.
Lawrie, who is in town until the weekend, said he has been impressed from what he’s seen in The Bahamas and he’s looking forward to making the recommendation to bring one or two of their major international competitions here in the future.
Ahmal Henfield, representing Fourteen Clubs, said the meeting with Lawrie was very informative. “We got some clarity and some good ideas on how we can develop the sport here,” Henfield said.
And Major Jr, who also secured his spot on the team in December, said they have been putting in a lot of solid work on and off the court to ensure they are ready. “We’re trying to train as hard as we can,” he said. “We’ve been testing our bodies and testing our endurances so that we can be in the best possible shape when we go.”
Television (all times EDT ): Thursday, 6:30 a m to 5 p m (USA Network), 5 p m to 8 p.m. (Peacock); Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p m (Peacock), 1 p.m. to 7 p m (NBC), 7 p m to 8 p m (Peacock); Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon (USA Network), noon to 8 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 9 a m to noon (USA Network) noon to 7 p m (NBC)
Home for the summer from Howard University where he’s playing college tennis, Major Jr said they can only control the things they can control, so they can’t worry about when and where they will play.
“We just have to put in as much work as we can so we will be ready when we get the call,” he said. “But the guys are looking solid. We can’t wait to get out there and play.”
“We hosted the Nationals for the past two years in Grand Bahama and so now over the next four years, we will be looking at the various Family Islands to host it and we started in Exuma.”
With more than 40 junior competitors, Musgrove said the competition was keenly contested in The Forest in Mount Thompson.
According to Musgrove, gravel and mountain bikes were used to enhance the competition, similar to what has been done by the New Providence Amateur Cycling Association in their events in New Providence. Musgrove said the competition was very good with Kevin Daley winning the 72-mile race overall in three hours, 43 minutes and six seconds.
By Miguel Fernander
WITH summer around the corner, Denykco Bowles’ Elite Skill Basketball Camp is once again preparing to welcome a new wave of athletes offering far more than just shooting drills and layups. For youngsters between the ages of four and 18, this four-week programme running from June 23 to July 18 offers professional training,
For only $99 a week, participants get first rate instruction from 9am to 2pm, covering everything from ball-handling and shooting strength training and conditioning.
“We offer top service and training for our children,” said Bowles, who noted that he has a crew of talented instructors to assist him.
“They’re not only learning basketball basics and complex skills, but also life lessons that assist them to
“So I really enjoy what I heard from him.
“Fourteen Clubs intends to work closely with the BGF and we will discuss bringing in more individuals for coaching so that we can develop more coaches so that they can expand in both the Family Islands and in our school system.”
University of the Bahamas’ golf head Fred Taylor said the meeting was very enlightening for him, athletic director Kimberly Rolle and sports
NPSA SOFTBALL
AFTER taking a break for the long holiday weekend, the New Providence Softball Association is scheduled to resume its regular season this weekend in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
Thursday 7:30pm - Gremlins vs Titans - 9pm - Platinum Food Services vs Sunshine Auto Wildcats
Saturday 6pm - Bowe vs Reloaded Players 7:30pm - Renegades vs Chances Mighty Mitts 9pm - Sunshine Auto Wildcats vs Black Scorpions
BASEBALL NPBA ACTION AFTER taking a break for the long holiday weekend, the New Providence Amateur
SEE PAGE E2
McIlroy
Scottie Sche er
Phil Mickelson
READY TO RUMBLE: From left to right, Davis Cuppers Denali Nottage, Kofi Bowe, Michael Major Jr and Donte Armbrister.
MARK LAWRIE, centre, met with various stakeholders in the Bahamas Golf Federation yesterday.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
DENYKCO BOWLES’ ELITE SKILL BASKETBALL CAMP TO WELCOME ‘NEW WAVE OF ATHLETES’
FROM PAGE E1
succeed both on and off the court.”
Notable talents from the camp over the years include Kai Jones, who went to play in the NBA, as well as
SPORTS CALENDAR
FROM PAGE E1
Baseball Association will resume the return of its first regular season in almost 20 years this week.
Here’s the fixture on tap:
Friday 6:45pm - Reapers vs Blue Power
9pm - Sharks vs Community Baseball League
Adon Roker and Nadalia Bastian, both of whom are playing professionally. Bowles happily observes that many players go on to compete at the high school and college levels both in Canada and in the United
Sunday
3pm - Outlawz vs Blue Power
5:15pm - Repeaters vs Sharks
BASKETBALL SMILES
IT’S that time again as Basketball Smiles returns to The Bahamas.
Scheduled for June 16-18 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the basketball clinic conducted by veteran American basketball coach Sam Nicholls is designed
States. Still, the camp’s effect transcends beyond only basketball. Bowles stressed that the Elite skills camp fosters self-motivation, discipline and character - virtues that last whistle blows.
for boys and girls between the ages of seven and 17 years old. The girls’ clinic is slated to run from 9am to noon and the boys will follow from 1-4pm.
Interested persons are urged to contact coach Patricia “Pattie” Johnson at HO Nash Junior High School or call 565-3675 for more details.
CHARITY GOLF
INVITATIONAL
THE Pilot Club International is scheduled to hold a
“For any young Bahamian, I want to say keep going no matter what your dream is,” said Bowles, who is a coach of the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves senior boys’ basketball team.
XCharity Golf INvitational Fundraiser on Friday, June 20 at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island.
The event will get started with a shotgun start at 8am, followed by the awards luncheon.
The donation is $1,000 per foursome.
For more information. interested persons can call 557-9049.
BASKETBALL
MHB CAMP
THE Marvin Henfield Basketball Summer Basketball Camp is scheduled to run from June 23 to July 11 for players aged 6-17 years old.
The camp will be held in the gym in the back of the old Coca-Cola headquarters, now Love 97, on Thompson Boulevard. There is limited space.
To register, persons can visit www/marvinJHenfield. com or contact Henfield at 828-2353.
VOLLEYBALL
SUMMER
FEST
TOURNEY
THE Crusaders/ Warhawks Volleyball Club, in conjunction with the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, is slsated to host its inaugural Summer Fest Beach Volleyball Tournament from July 10-13 in Rolleville, Exuma.
The tournament, sponsored by Fidelity and Rubis,
“When you come to this camp, be ready to work hard, stay focused and put your best foot forward every single day. We’re here to help you grow as a person, not just as an athlete.”
will feature a men’s 2-on-2 and women’s 3-on-3 format. Cash prizes of $1,000 will be awarded for the winners and $500 for the runners-up in both divisions. Interested teams are urged to call 422-4550 or 801-3131 for more details.
PEACE ON DA STREET
FAMILY NIGHT
PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball Classics’ Road to 30 years of existence.
The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting hoops instead of guns,” will be held from July 14-19 at the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center.
The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm.
There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s Slam Dunk Contest.
The night will conclude with the exciting Clergy versus Politicians match-up.
BASKETBALL
BOWLES
ELITE SKILLS CAMP
THE International Basketball Association is set
Bowles confirmed the comeback of the camp and pledged yet another round of elite development, monitoring and empowerment for the kids with eyes already fixed on summer 2026.
to hold the 12th annual Denykco Bowles Elite Skills Basketball Camp at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium from June 23 to July 18. The camp, held under the theme “Developing Champions on all levels,” is designed for boys and girls between the ages of four and 18 and will be held from 8am to 2pm. Interested persons can call 466-0049 for more details.
YOUTH SOFTBALL CAMP AS a part of the activities for the Queens of Paradise Softball Tournament next weekend at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, a Youth Softball Camp will be held.
It will take place on Friday, June 20 from 10am to noon for players between the ages of seven and 17 years old. Interested persons can sign up at www/ dbhrderby.com
The weekend will be highlighted by a series of professional softball games between the Atlanta Smoke and the Orlando Monarchs from June 19-21.
Don’t Blink Sports Entertainment, headed by Todd Isaacs Jr and Lucius Fox Jr, along with B4Real Enterprises, is hosting the series of events, which will also include a celebrity softball game.
PARTICIPANTS enjoy the Denykco Bowles’ Elite Skill Basketball Camp with NBA superstar Kevin Durant.
Cycling Nationals hosted in Exuma after 19-year hiatus
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Grand Bahamian Launy Duncombe took the junior’s 50-mile race in 2:16:44.6 and Kami Roach was the first female finisher in 2:37:04.7. Jaquan Strachan captured the youth’s 20-mile race in 1:19:07.9.
Musgrove said the event turned out to be an overwhelming success, not just from the competitors competing, but the Exuma Cycling Association in assisting the federation in hosting and organising the event. “We had great support from the residents of Exuma,” Musgrove said. “We had some good sponsors and the necessary officials to pull off the event. We can truly say that this can go down as one of the best nationals we’ve had in quite a long time.”
Here’s a look at the top performances from the nationals: 72-mile race overall
1. Kevin Daley3:00:43.6. 2. Felix Neel . 3 - Kenton Roker - 3:13:41.4. 4. Curtis Flower - 3:28:26.1. 5. Barron Musgrove Jr.3:36:05.9. 6. Rowshan W Jones - 3:52:34.5. Randall Underwood - DNF.
50-miles overall
1. Launy Duncombe - 2:16:44.6. 2. Tristan Johnson - 2:34:31.0. 3. Levi Capron - 2:34:35.9. 4. Kami Roach - 2:37:04.7. 5. Arcady Thompson - 2:42:11.8. 6. Enea Gervasini - 2:42:12.3. 7. Wayne Price - 2:42:24.9. 8. Ayden Bain - 2:47:48.8. 9. Ilaria Gervasini - 2:48:45.0. 10. D Nacko Parker3:06:05.9. 11. Brian Strachan - 3:18:30.9. 12. Anjaleah Knowles - 3:38:13.3. Ellie Gibson - DNF. Sienna Culmer-Mackey - DNF. Denzel Smith - DNF. 50-miles females 1. Kami Roach2:37:04.7. 2. Ilaria Gervasini - 2:48:45.0. 3. Anjaleah Knowles - 3:38:13.3. 4. Sienna Culmer-Mckey - DNF.
20 miles overall 1. Jaquan Strachan1:19:07.9. 2. Torion Turner - 1:19:08.1. 3. Royce Colebrook - 1:19:24.5. 4. Kendrick Cargill Jr.1:22:30.4. 5. J’vari Sweeting - 1:22:40.2. 6. Brian Mackey - 1:27:52.9. 7. Nathaniel Adderley - 1:27:53.6. 8. Joshua Morley - 1:28:26.1. 9. Jamal Rolle - 1:30:37.6. 10. Taylor Knowles - 1:31:01.3. 11. Blue Gray - 1:31:02.9. 12. Anthony Knowles Jr.1:31:21.3. Natron Knowles - DNF. Ladonte KempDNF. Aden Brown - DNF. Cressword Cox - DNF. Khaedon Thompson - DNF. Trayvon Cooper - DNF. Nicolette Reid - DNF. 20 miles females
1. Taylor Knowles1:31:01.3. 2. Blue Gray - 1:31:02.9. Nicolette Reid - DNF. 10 miles overall 1. Tre’nae Smith1:01:24.3. 2. Nicolas Reid - 1:02:05.1. 10 miles females - Tre’nae Smith - 1:01:24.3. 10 miles males
1. Nicolas Reid1:02:05.1. Gravel/Mountain Bike Races
Open male
1. Brian Strachan. 2. Daniel Morley. 3. Wayne Price. Open adult male
1. Kevin Daley. 2. Rowston Jones. Open females
1. Lori Roach. Under-23 male
1. Barron Musgrove Jr. Under-23 female 1. Kami Roach. 2. Sienna Culmer-Mackey. Elite junior
1. Levi Capron. 2. Elli Gibson. 3. D’Nacko Parker. 4. Tristan Johnson. Under-15 boys
1. J’Vari Sweeting. 2. Jaquan Strachan. 3. Brian Mackey. 4. Torion Turner. 5. Joshua Morley. 6. Kendrick Cargill Jr. 7. Dylan Dorsette. 8. Royce Colebrooke. 9. Anthony Knowles, Jr. U-12 girls 1. Trenae Smith.
WITH JONQUEL JONES NOT PLAYING DUE TO AN ANKLE INJURY, LIBERTY TOP SKY 85-66 TO BECOME 9TH TEAM IN WNBA HISTORY TO START SEASON 9-0
NEW YORK (AP) —
Sabrina Ionescu had 23 points and seven assists, Breanna Stewart added 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and the New York Liberty beat the Chicago Sky 85-66 on Tuesday night to become the ninth team in WNBA history to start a season 9-0. New York, off to its best start in franchise history, scored the first 12 points of the game and cruised from there. Kennedy Burke made a wide-open 3-pointer from the corner off a nice
JONQUEL JONES (AP)
for a 76-42 advantage. Chicago had 22 turnovers and 28 field goals. Burke finished with 15 points and three 3-pointers. Nyara Sabally made her first career start in place of Jonquel Jones, who did not
play due to an ankle injury, and finished with nine points in 15 minutes.
Angel Reese led Chicago (2-6) with a season-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Reese’s 30th career double-double came in her 42nd game — the fewest needed to reach the mark in WNBA history.
Chicago rookie guard Hailey Van Lith made her first WNBA 3-pointer with 1:09 left in the fourth. The Sky announced Sunday that Courtney Vandersloot had an MRI that revealed a torn ACL. She spent the previous two seasons in New York and helped the Liberty win the WNBA title last year before returning to Chicago this season.
SHOWN, from left to right, are Kami Roach, Anajaleah Knowles, Launy Duncombe, Kenton Roker, Felix Neely, Barron Musgrove and Tristan Johnson.
A JUNIOR competitor getting his race started.
BARRON Musgrove gives some last-minute instructions to the junior cyclists.
KAMI Roach in action.
ILARIA Gervasini in action.
ONE of the top cyclists in action.
Millie Vlasov flies high in Nations Cup qualifier
MILLIE Vlasov and her CAC Games mount Gulliver du Saint-Chene displayed one of their most impressive performances so far this season in the CSIO3* Longines European Equestrian Federation (EEF) Nations Cup Regional Qualifier and Grand Prix in Drammen, Norway.
She placed 8th of 80 riders in the 1.40m twophase competition and 22nd of 70 riders in the 1.45m Grand Prix.
Vlasov represented The Bahamas as an individual rider, as the competition format allowed for both team and individual entries.
The quality of competition – and prize money - attracted top riders from around the world, while teams from 10 European countries – Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden faced off for the final northern European qualifier for the Longines Nations Cup.
In total 80 horse/rider combinations from 19 countries were tested by the challenging course designed by Belgian course designer Bart Vonck.
The first day of competition featured a two-phase event.
After riding a clear round in the first phase, Vlasov capitalised on her mount’s speed and agility in the second phase, stopping the clock at 35.63 seconds and earning 8th place honours.
On the second day Vlasov blamed herself for a mistake on course, which caused a rail to fall at the third fence and kept the pair out of the jump-off.
The pair returned to form on the third and final day of the competition, riding
After riding a clear round in the first phase, Vlasov capitalised on her mount’s speed and agility in the second phase, stopping the clock at 35.63 seconds and earning 8th place honours.
a clear first round in the 1.45m Grand Prix despite rain and windy conditions.
Vlasov hopes that with the strong performance in Norway, she and Gulliver will have attained the minimum eligibility requirements to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in 2026 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She and Gulliver will continue to compete in Europe until mid-July, when she plans to take a break.
MILLIE Vlasov and Gulliver du Saint-Chene had a clear round in the CSIO3* 1.45m Grand Prix at Drammen, Norway.
Teeing It O
THIS YEAR’S U.S . OPE N IS ON TOUGHEST COURSE IN GOLF
36 holes of qualifying, just for a shot at Oakmont.
Never mind that Ror y McIlroy is nally a Masters champion and the rst player in 25 years to join the exclusive elusive list of players with a career Grand Slam. Or that Scottie Schefer has reasserted himself as the best player in golf
e one name that has ever yone ’ s attention at the U.S. Open: Oakmont.
e course Henr y Fownes built is tough as Pittsburgh steel and always has been. e last winning score over 300 at a U.S. Open was by Tommy Armour in Oakmont in 1927. e last time anyone came close since then? Also at Oakmont in 1935.
e USGA doesn’t have to do much to achieve what it wants: e toughest test in golf Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open for the 10th time on June 12-15, and there’s a reason it keeps going back there more than any other course “ ere are certain places in our game where you stand on the rst tee and you look out over the landscape, and it s just meant to play the U.S. Open. Oakmont is that place It was built for a U.S. Open ” said John Bodenhamer, the chief championships o cer for the USGA. at s what awaits the best in the world and a collection of dreamers willing to go through
Xander Schau ele has only nished out of the top 10 once in his eight U.S. Opens. He has yet to see Oakmont, but its reputation is enough for him to realize what to expect.
It s just a battle It really is Schau ele said Sche er made his U.S. Open debut as a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Texas. He shot 69 in the rst round then missed the cut. Now he is a three-time major champion, fresh o his ve-shot victor y in the PGA Championship and facing the sternest test yet.
SCHEF FL E R S OA R IN G
e freak injur y Sche er su ered when he tried cutting ravioli with a wine glass and punctured his right hand might have set him back at the start of his season. He is in full stride going into the U.S. Open. Schefer has won three of his last four tournaments by a combined 17 shots. at includes the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow A victor y at Oakmont would send him to the British Open next month for a shot at the career Grand Slam.
B R YSO N I S B AC K
For all the talk about Oakmont s toughness, Winged Foot in New York is another brute of a U.S. Open test. at’s where Br yson DeChambeau blasted away o the tee and powered wedges out of the rough. He set the
scoring record at Winged Foot (274) and won by six in the 2020 U.S. Open. Now he is the defending champion and ready to match muscles with Oakmont. Only ve players in the last 100 years have won the U.S. Open back-to-back.
TH E FIE L D
e U.S. Open boasts the most democratic eld of all the majors, with roughly 45 percent of players going through 36 holes of qualifying at includes Mason Howell, a 17-yearold high school junior who had rounds of 63-63 without a bogey to qualify It also features Harrison Ott at No 2,651 in the world rankings. And then there’s the Indianapolis dentist, Matt Vogt, a former Oakmont caddie e last player to win the U.S. Open a er having to qualify was Lucas Glover in 2009.
P H I L FAR E W E L L ?
Phil Mickelson made his U.S. Open debut in 1990, one year a er McIlroy was born. Only one of them has the career Grand Slam. Mickelson is 0-for-33 in the U.S. Open, and this might be his last chance at age 54. His ve-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship runs out this year He already accepted one special exemption from the USGA right before he won the PGA, and that counts. Seve Ballesteros is the only player to have received more than one special exemption without having won the U.S. Open.
Dates: June 12-15
Site: Oakmont Country Club, suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Length: 7,349 yards
Par: 70
Cut: Top 60 and ties
Playo (if necessary): Two-hole aggregate immediately after 72 holes are completed
Field: 156 players
Purse: TBA Last year: $21.5 million
Defending champion: Bryson
DeChambeau
Last year: Bryson DeChambeau got up-and-down from 55 yards away in a bunker, making a 4-foot putt for a 1-over 71 and a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No 2. McIlroy had the lead late in the round but bogeyed three of his last four holes That included missing a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole and a par putt just inside 4 feet on the last hole DeChambeau captured his second U.S. Open
Last time at Oakmont: Dustin Johnson closed with a 1-under 69 to rally from a four-shot de cit and won his rst major in the 2016 U.S. Open He won by three shots after getting a two-shot penalty after the nal round for his ball moving on the fth green The money line (BetMGM Sportsbook): Scottie Sche er,
Mark Lawrie meets with stakeholders in the Bahamas Golf Federation
FROM PAGE E1
information director Chris Saunders. “We talked about some things we can do to further this programme,” Taylor said.
“We’re still in our infancy stage and we want to know what direction we should take to get to the next level.
“It’s more clear to us because he shared some perspectives on what steps we should take from here. We are seeking to join up with the NAIA and we’re looking at all avenues to get there.”
242.Golf Academy’s head coach Ian Corbell, who was accompanied by one of his students-turned into a coach, Miranda Tucker, said the session was very informative.
“We got a different perspective on our vision plan,” he said. “Getting a view from his perspective, we can now go back to the drawing board and make the adjustments and hopefully come up with a very successful plan of operation.”
Tucker, who has been playing golf for the past 14 years and just recently graduated from the Dominican University of New York, said she got to learn a lot about golf in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“I learned new avenues on where to pursue more amateur golfers and
possibly bridging amateur golf to professional golf and some of the required things I need to do,” Tucker said. She said she definitely hopes to take the information back to her students with the view of trying to help them get into colleges and universities on athletic scholarships so that they can pursue their dreams of becoming professional golfers. And Agatha Delancy, the pioneer for women’s golf in The Bahamas, said Lawrie was very keen about where women golfers came from and where they are today. Using herself as an example, having served as the first female president of the BGF, Delancy said there was no organised women’s outlet until the late Ken Francis encouraged her to get more women to participate. Over the years, Delancy said she was able to serve under the leadership of
Ambrose Gouthro, Neville Adderley and Craig Flowers, which enabled her to become the president.
“So I’ve seen the highs and lows of women’s golf in The Bahamas,” Delancy said.
“I’ve seen the junior golfers rise to the top level like Raquel Riley, Georgette Rolle, Helena Hutchinson and of course Jamaica Duncombe, who was an exceptional talent.
“Then we had the setbacks with the hurricane and COVID-19, but we have formed a new organisation and we’re now seeing a lot of women coming out to our Saturdays programme, so we feel we can only get better with our programme.”
She noted that the nuggets that Lawrie shared with her, she will pass onto her members of the Flamingos Golf Club so that they can continue to grow from strength to strength.
Ror y McIlroy Scottie Sche er Phil Mickelson
MARK LAWRIE, centre, met with various stakeholders in the Bahamas Golf Federation yesterday. Photos: Nikia Charlton