Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Melissa late last year, Zandre Roye and Oshae Haye believe their preparations for the prestigious Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) have gone well.
The duo was recently announced as the pair that will represent Jamaica in the 11th edition of the tournament, which tees off on Thursday at the Lima Golf Club in Peru.
“It’s always a pleasure representing the country. This tournament is a cut above the rest as it is one of the biggest amateur events on the planet,” said Roye, speaking of the tournament’s significance.
This week’s entrance will mark the third time Roye is playing in the Latin American tournament, and the St Ann native, who has won titles in Jamaica and Trinidad, admitted that his first two outings were tough but expressed confidence in his readiness.
“Preparations coming into this event were good despite the country facing a hurricane in October, which slowed things a bit. My teammate, Oshae Haye, and I managed to make do with what we had. We couldn’t practise on the courses on the north coast as we usually would, but I think we are in the right frame of mind to go out, do our best, and see where that takes us at the end of the week.”
While Roye will make his third consecutive appearance, having competed in 2024 and 2025, Haye is not a newcomer either, having campaigned in 2024.
They will draw upon this valuable experience as they navigate a formidable field of over 100 golfers from 28 countries.
The Jamaican pair faces a familiar contingent of regional rivals, including competitors from Barbados, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago.
However, they will also contend with powerhouse nations like host Peru, Argentina, and Mexico, all with strong histories in the championship.
The primary objective for Roye and Haye will be to make the 36-hole cut after the first two days then battle for position on the leaderboard. Jamaica’s best finish at the LAAC remains Ian Facey’s 24th-place achievement in 2015.
Beyond regional glory, the champion earns a life-changing invitation to compete at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, along with exemptions into The Open and the US Open.
