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Jamaica seems on course to successfully defend its title at the 2022 Caribbean Golf Association's (CGA) Four-Ball Championship in Florida after improving on its day-one standing at the end of day two.
The 2019 and 2021 champions are atop the leaderboard in four of the five categories at the Golden Palm Golf Course in Florida, up from the lead in three at the end of day one.
"They did well, overall. Very proud of the effort,” said team coach Jonathan Newnham at the end of play Wednesday.
“The goal is to win the day and today we had the lowest score in all five categories which was great so that's our goal again tomorrow (Thursday).
“If we can win the day, the results will take care of themselves and how do we win the day? By giving maximum effort in every shot. The course is playing a little shorter today, there were more opportunities and I was proud of how we took advantage of them."
At the end of the second round, the pair of Wayne Chai Chong and partner Rory Jardine posted the lowest score of the competition after carding a six-under-par 65 for a two-day total of 140.
They took the lead in the battle for the Higgs & Higgs Cup from joint first-round leaders Fernando Diaz and Arturo Morales of Puerto Rico and Joe Delillipo and Roger Hanson of the Cayman Islands. Robert Chin and Dorrel Allen scored 71 which along with their first-round score of 76 have them at 147 which moved them from seventh to joint-second with two other teams in the category.
Meanwhile, Philip Prendergast and Owen Samuda continued to lead their group in defence of the Ramon Baez RobertRomano Trophy. They had the second-best score of the tournament, a 68 for a two-day total of 141.
They lead by four shots over Lynford Miller and Ashley Glinton of the Bahamas who posted 70 for a total of 145.
Dr Mark Newnhan and Michael Gleichman shot 71 for an overall score of 148 which moved them from fifth to third place in the race for the Francis Steel Perkins Trophy.
Metry Seaga and Dave Cameron scored 78 for an overall score of 155. William 'Tommy' Lee and Carlyle Hudson were one stroke back on 156 (78, 78) at the end of the second round.
The category lead was taken over by Rich Hastings and Glen Whenwell of the Cayman Islands, who 71 for a total of 145.
They lead the Jamaican team of Dr. Mark Newnham and Michael Gleichman by three strokes.
Among the women, Jodi Munn-Barrow and Lisa Gardner extended their lead in the Maria Nunes Trophy.
They shot a 76 for an overall score of 154, five strokes ahead of Puerto Rico’s Mara Pagan and Rebekah Alford who ended the second round on 159.
Maggie Lyn and Michelle McCreath will take home the Desire Henry Trophy with a combined score of 167 after two rounds.
PGA Championship: McIlroy 'feeling good' about game despite wait for elusive fifth major
Rory McIlroy feels positive about his game despite a continued wait to win an elusive fifth major championship.
Xander Schauffele secured a maiden major victory by winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla, which was the venue for McIlroy's last major triumph in 2014.
McIlroy finished in a tie for 12th place and has often come close, recording 20 top-10 finishes in majors since winning his last, which is more than any other player during that span.
He had won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship coming into the second major of 2024 and, despite falling short, still feels things are trending in the right direction with the U.S. Open and The Open Championship to come this year.
Asked about the state of his game, McIlroy said: "I'm feeling good about that.
"I have been on a big stretch of golf here. I think this was my sixth event in seven weeks. I've got a week off and then I'm playing another four in a row.
"I'm feeling good about my game. I feel like things are sort of clicking more, especially after the win in New Orleans.
"Obviously played well last week in Charlotte. Have a week here to sort of reset and try to get going again."
McIlroy was in contention for glory after carding a five-under 66 on the first day at Valhalla.
But he ultimately finished nine strokes behind Schauffele, as a difficult 71 on day two was followed up with creditable scores of 68 and 67 over the weekend’s play.
McIlroy looked poised for another top-10 finish before finding the water twice on Sunday, but still emerged at four under for the day with seven birdies and three bogeys in an up-and-down final round.
He continued: "Obviously I started the week well, and then I've obviously played decent over the weekend.
"That six-hole stretch on the back nine [on Saturday], not being able to hole any putts, I'll probably rue that.
"Then the 71 on Friday, as well, was obviously not what I was looking for. Obviously put myself too far back.
"Overall I am playing solid, game is in good shape, and I've got a week off and then another busy stretch coming up."
PGA Championship: Schauffele 'captured the moment' with maiden major victory
Xander Schauffele says that he captured the moment during his PGA Championship win after handling the big moments better than he had in the past.
Schauffele won his maiden major victory with a dramatic one-shot win at Valhalla, Kentucky on Sunday, making history as he finished 21 under, the lowest 72-hole score in men’s major history.
He held off late challenges from Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland to secure the Wanamaker Trophy after carding a 65 on the final day.
"It feels amazing," Schauffele told reporters after his win.
"Winning, I said it earlier, is a result. This is awesome, it's super sweet, but when I break it down, I'm really proud of how I handled certain moments on the course today, different from the past."
"I was pretty nervous. I don't really remember it [the birdie putt] lipping in, I just heard everyone roaring and I looked up to the sky in relief.
"I really did not want to go into a play-off with Bryson. Going up 18 with his length, it's not something that I was going to have a whole lot of fun with.
"I was able to capture that moment there... I just kept telling myself I need to earn this, earn this and be in the moment, and I was able to do that."
Despite lifting the trophy, Schauffele believes that he still has work to do to reach Scottie Scheffler.
The world number one had a turbulent week, which saw him arrested ahead of the second round on Friday, and he finished joint-eighth.
"All of us are climbing this massive mountain and at the top of the mountain is Scottie Scheffler," Schauffele added. "I won this today, but I'm still not that close to Scottie Scheffler in the big scheme of things.
"I got one good hook up there in the mountain up on that cliff, and I'm still climbing. I might have a beer up there on that side of the hill there and enjoy this, but it's not that hard to chase when someone is so far ahead of you."
PGA Championship: Schauffele makes history with first major win
Xander Schauffele secured a maiden major victory with a dramatic one-shot win to make history in the PGA Championship.
Schauffele held off late challenges from Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland to finish on 21 under at Valhalla – the lowest 72-hole score in men’s major history.
Hovland had briefly taken the lead after six birdies in eight holes, but Schauffele pulled it back with birdies on the 11th and 12th.
DeChambeau then birdied the last hole to card a 64, drawing level with his fellow American and setting him up for a nervy finish.
However, Schauffele, who led the tournament after equalling the best round at a major when he carded 62 in round one, claimed the Wanamaker Trophy with his final shot, putting a six-foot birdie.
"I was emotional after the [winning] putt lipped in," said Schauffele. "It's been a while since I've won – I really did not want to go into a play-off with Bryson.
"My dad is in Hawaii, and I managed to call him, but I had to hang up quickly because he was making me cry."
Justin Rose and Shane Lowry, who brilliantly equalled Schauffele’s 62 on Saturday, finished 14 under in joint-sixth.
Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa went into the final round as joint-leader alongside the PGA Championship winner, but a disappointing Sunday meant he finished five off the pace.
World number one, Scottie Scheffler ended a tumultuous week in joint-eighth, meanwhile, Rory McIlroy finished outside the top 10 on 12 under.
The Northern Irishman had been hotly tipped to end his long wait for another major title, yet he found the water with approach shots on the 13th and 15th.
McIlroy was just ahead of Kentucky native Justin Thomas, who carded a bogey-free 68 on the final day.
"It was wild. I've never felt so loved, I've had a lot of fun this week," Thomas told Sky Sports.
"That was pretty special walking up 18. I obviously wish I had a chance to win, but it was just so much fun. I can't put it into words. It's special.
"I'm glad I could do this and play in my home town."
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