Betschart & MacFarlane Secure Top 5 Finishes
Bermuda’s junior golfers Darina Betschart and Lewis MacFarlane delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Optimist Tournament of Champions, held from October 31 to November 1 at Las Colinas Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.
Both players represented Bermuda with pride, securing top-five finishes in their respective age divisions against international competition.
Darina Betschart Claims Fifth Place in Girls 14–18 Division
Fifteen-year-old Darina Betschart competed in the Girls 14–18 division, finishing an impressive fifth in a field of 29 competitors. Betschart opened the tournament with a 1 over par round of 72 before following up with a 74 on the second day. Her two-round total of 146, four over par, secured her place among the top five in a competitive field.
Reflecting on her performance, Betschart was pleased with her consistency while acknowledging that there were opportunities to score even better.
She said, “I played quite well for competing in the 14–18 division and placing fifth overall. I left some shots out there, but overall my game was strong and consistent. It’s always such a privilege to represent Bermuda and be in contention. I met some great people, and hopefully I will get to play again next year.”
Lewis MacFarlane Secures Fourth Place in Boys 11–13 Division
Fellow Bermudian Lewis MacFarlane also enjoyed a successful weekend, finishing fourth in the Boys 11–13 division.
MacFarlane opened with a round of 79 before producing an impressive six-shot improvement on Sunday, carding a 73 to finish with a two-day total of 152, ten over par. His strong final-round performance helped secure a well-deserved fourth-place finish.”
He said, “I feel like I played pretty solid, better in the second round, and I really enjoyed meeting some new people. The course was not in the best condition, but it was quite short and it played to my strengths. Being able to have the opportunity to compete overseas is awesome, and it was a great experience.”
The spokesperson said, “The Optimist Tournament of Champions provided another valuable opportunity for Bermuda’s rising junior golfers to test their skills against international competition, gain tournament experience and build friendships with fellow young athletes. With both Betschart and MacFarlane securing top-five finishes, the weekend marked another encouraging result for Bermuda’s junior golf programme and highlighted the continued development of young golfing talent on the island.”
