Golf Teams Selected For 2023 Island Games
The Bermuda Golf Association [BGA] has selected eight players to represent Bermuda at the 2023 NatWest International Island Games to be contested from July 8-14 at the L’Ancresse Links in Guernsey, Channel Islands.
A spokesperson said, “The men’s team includes Oliver Betschart, Jarryd Dillas, Adam Perry and Jevon Roberts, with Christian Collins and Mikus Ming named as the reserve players. The ladies team consists of Kim Botelho, Tracy Burgess, Ebonie Cox and Ann Symonds, with Katrin Burnie and Sienna Mosquera named as the reserve players.”
Craig Brown, president of the BGA, believes that both teams can target success at this year’s Games. “Overall, I think the teams selected are a great representation of amateur golf in Bermuda, and I’m confident our players will do the island proud both on and off the course this summer. All eight individuals have been involved in our high-performance training squad since February, and those sessions will continue as we look to further sharpen our players’ competitive edges in the lead-up to Guernsey 2023.”
The spokesperson added, “At the 2017 Games in Gotland – the last time Golf was contested at the Island Games – the quartet of Walker Campbell, Dillas, Will Haddrell and Mark Phillips finished fourth in the men’s team event, with Dillas placing fifth individually. Similarly, the team of Burnie, Linda Down, Elizabeth Parsons and Tariqah Walikraam placed fourth in the ladies team event, with Parsons also finishing fifth individually.
“Bermuda has been a perennial medal winner at the Island Games in the sport of Golf since first entering the biennial competition in 2005. In seven previous appearances, the Bermuda men have won team Gold on three occasions [2007, 2009, 2013], and added third-place finishes in 2005 and 2015. The Bermuda ladies won team Gold back in 2009, earned runner-up honors in 2005, and finished third in 2007. Additionally, Bermudian golfers have amassed a total of 10 individual medals – four Gold, two Silver and four Bronze.”
“The International Island Games were founded in the Isle of Man in 1985 and today include 24 member islands in, or associated with, the nine sovereign nations of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK, plus the Caribbean. Since 1999, NatWest has been the title sponsor for the Island Games, which have grown to become one of the largest international multi-sport events in the world, behind the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.”
“We’ve had some very good performances at the Island Games over the years, so I know the players are all looking forward to the challenge of continuing that success in Guernsey,” added Brown. “Both teams are aiming to improve on the results from Gotland and contend for multiple places on the podium this time around.”
