By JONATHAN BURROWS
Tribune Sports Reporter
jburrows@tribunemedia.net
ADEN Jones was the only junior golfer to advance to the next division during the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Operation 36 testing event at Royal Blue Golf Course this past Saturday.
Meanwhile, a second day of testing produced several close attempts as players continued to work towards reaching their targets. Jones, 13, a seventh-grade student at Lyford Cay, completed his Division 4 test from 150 yards, shooting 36 to advance to Division 5. He returned to the course on Sunday, October 18, and shot 38 from the Division 5 distance, placing himself within reach of another advancement.
The two-day testing event hosted the country's top junior golfers competing across five divisions at Royal Blue at Baha Mar, with players tested from distances ranging from 50 to 200 yards per hole.
The Operation 36 programme is designed to help young golfers develop their skills progressively by working towards shooting par from designated distances before advancing to the next division. Sunday’s results produced no successful passes, meaning no players advanced to another division, although several golfers recorded scores close to the target, including a pair of 39s in Division 2 and a 40 in Division 4.
Jermany Dawkins and Lavoughn Stuart tied for the lead in Division 2, each shooting 39 from 50 yards per hole to finish three over par. Kai Simmons followed with 44, while Breion Bullard shot 45 and Xario Taylor finished with 46.
J’Niyah Moxey led Division 3 from 100 yards per hole, carding 41 to finish five over par. Zoe Simmons placed second with 43, followed by Advik Arora with 51 and Kierce Watson with 60.
In Division 4, contested from 150 yards per hole, Sarah Scheidecker topped the standings with 40, finishing four over par. Blake Babcock followed with 42, while Luca Giallombardo recorded 50.
Division 5, played from 200 yards per hole, saw Jervarie Dawkins and Aden Jones share the top position with scores of 38, both finishing two over par.
Zeden Poiter placed third with 41. The Division 2 and Division 5 results showcased the competitive nature of the testing sessions, with several players finishing close to the scores required to advance to the next division. While Sunday produced no new passes, the performances provided the juniors with measurable targets to work towards during their upcoming practice sessions.
Said Georgette Rolle-Harris, chair of the junior division for the Bahamas Golf Federation: “The weekend's Operation 36 testing events were very encouraging. We saw several close passes, including one player shooting 37 and a few others shooting 38 in their respective divisions.”
“Seeing so many scores in the 30s over the past few days is exciting, as it demonstrates that our players are competing from distances that allow them to experience success while continuing to develop their skills and confidence,” she said.
Rolle-Harris pointed to Jones’ performance as an example of the progress the programme is designed to encourage, noting that his advancement to Division 5 was followed by another strong showing from the longer distance.
“Performances like Aden’s are exciting to see, and we anticipate that he and many of his fellow players will be motivated to return to their practice sessions with renewed determination to reach the next level,” she said.
The federation has completed four testing events this semester, with another four planned before the end of the year. Rolle-Harris said the increased frequency of testing was intended to give players more opportunities to measure their development and work towards achievable goals. “Providing more frequent testing opportunities is an important part of our approach, as it gives players achievable short-term goals, allows them to measure their progress, and encourages them to remain engaged in their development,” she said.
The Operation 36 model encourages golfers to pursue par one division at a time, gradually increasing the distance from which they play as their skills improve.
“This is exactly what we hope to promote through the Operation 36 model - the pursuit of par, one division at a time,” Rolle-Harris said. “By creating more opportunities for players to test their skills and see tangible results, we aim to build confidence, strengthen their commitment to practice, and ultimately produce better long-term outcomes.”
The federation expects the continued testing schedule to provide more opportunities for Jones and his fellow juniors to improve their scores, pass their tests and advance through the divisions as they strengthen their games.