Late professional golfer Jasper Markland is to be the honouree at the prestigious 54th Jamaica Open Golf Championship scheduled to be held at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover from Sunday, November 14 to Wednesday, November 17.

Markland won the Jamaica Open twice in 1964 and 1967 and was the caddy master at the Constant Spring Golf Club for many years and taught many golfers including the current Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) President Jodi Munn-Barrow.

Munn-Barrow said she believes the 72-hole tournament will be a success as it has attracted more entries from several countries including the USA, Canada, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago than the previous edition.

“I am looking forward to a fantastic tournament. Although I am the president, it’s really the team of the Jamaica Golf Association that has pulled this off and without our sponsors, we would not be here. I am looking forward to the golf. I think it’s going be an excellent week of golf,” she explained.

Tournament Director David Mais is confident that the course will be ready in time for the start of the Pro-Am tournament on Sunday despite the heavy rainfall at Tryall in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, defending champion William Knibbs has expressed confidence that he will successfully defend his title even though he expects a stern challenge from perennial rival Justin Burrowes.

“I definitely think I can but I won’t get caught up thinking that’s my only focus, because, ultimately, if I execute well and he beats me or if somebody beats me then you just have to tip your cap to them. But, I will do everything in my power to give myself the best chance to contend again,” he said.

Orville Christie, the best-placed local professional golfer in 2020, said he expects to get competition from 2019 top local pro Wesley Brown. Christie said that he has been preparing to compete at Tryall for some time and expect to do well again.

Markland’s daughter, Margaret, appreciated the recognition of her father’s contribution to the sport over many years. “He would be proud, very proud. He was a golf teacher here so he would be very happy for this,” she said.