Bayles, Taylor win junior national golf titles

Wed, May 26th 2021, 08:50 AM

After two rounds and 36 holes of play, Jenna Bayles repeated as the female junior national golf champion and Zion Taylor walked away with the male junior national award at the 2021 Bahamas Golf Federation’s (BGF) Junior National Championships at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island this past Saturday and Sunday.

Bayles, 18, finished the two-round event with a score of 27-over par, coming out on top in the 16-18 female division.
“It feels good especially since it’s my last year as a junior and I did it playing on my favorite course. It feels great to win back-to-back, being the defending champion. It gave me confidence to come back out and win again,” said Bayles.
Bayles said this was the tougher one for her to win as she was down by three strokes to Nyah Singh after the first round of competition. Singh led with a 14-over par while Bayles scored a 17-over par. However, Bayles’ second round play was better.
“The first one was easier to win. In this second one, the winds were at 25 miles per hour (mph) yesterday (Saturday) and I was three strokes behind the leader. I was able to still come out and fight,” Bayles said. “My play today (Sunday) was a lot better than yesterday (Saturday). The winds were definitely easier, and I got more used to the greens. Today (Sunday) was definitely a better day for me and I’m glad I came out with the win.”
Singh ended the tournament third in that category with an overall score of 32-over par. Finishing second was A’Marie Smith with a score of 31-over par.
Taylor’s score of 16-over par was the lowest male score in the tournament. He was victorious in the boys 16-18 division. The 16-year-old was able to finish ahead of defending champion Heathcliffe Kane, who was second in that category with a 19-over par.
“It feels good,” Taylor said about winning the overall trophy. “I came a couple shots short before and this year my competitors started to make a charge and I managed to hold them off and came up clutch on the final four holes. I will be back next year to defend my title. Hopefully, the plaque will say Zion Taylor 2021, 2022 and 2023 Champion.”

Bayles, 18, finished the two-round event with a score of 27-over par, coming out on top in the 16-18 female division.

“It feels good especially since it’s my last year as a junior and I did it playing on my favorite course. It feels great to win back-to-back, being the defending champion. It gave me confidence to come back out and win again,” said Bayles.

Bayles said this was the tougher one for her to win as she was down by three strokes to Nyah Singh after the first round of competition. Singh led with a 14-over par while Bayles scored a 17-over par. However, Bayles’ second round play was better.

“The first one was easier to win. In this second one, the winds were at 25 miles per hour (mph) yesterday (Saturday) and I was three strokes behind the leader. I was able to still come out and fight,” Bayles said. “My play today (Sunday) was a lot better than yesterday (Saturday). The winds were definitely easier, and I got more used to the greens. Today (Sunday) was definitely a better day for me and I’m glad I came out with the win.”

Singh ended the tournament third in that category with an overall score of 32-over par. Finishing second was A’Marie Smith with a score of 31-over par.

Taylor’s score of 16-over par was the lowest male score in the tournament. He was victorious in the boys 16-18 division. The 16-year-old was able to finish ahead of defending champion Heathcliffe Kane, who was second in that category with a 19-over par.

“It feels good,” Taylor said about winning the overall trophy. “I came a couple shots short before and this year my competitors started to make a charge and I managed to hold them off and came up clutch on the final four holes. I will be back next year to defend my title. Hopefully, the plaque will say Zion Taylor 2021, 2022 and 2023 Champion.”

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