RBL Jnr Open: Collier stars; Ramkissoon, La Borde, Varin, Isabella and Kahlan complete winners’ row

Ethan Collier emerged as the star of the 2025 Republic Bank Junior Golf Open Championships at St Andrew’s Golf Club in Maraval, as he cruised to victory in the Boys 14-15 category yesterday.

The 14-year-old, who won the 11-13 category in 2024, shot the best rounds on each day of the tournament—irrespective of division—to win his second straight Championship.

Ross Ramkissoon took his first 16-18 crown in the last of his 12 years as a junior golfer, while 11-year-old Varin Singh overcame a worry-filled night to cop the Boys 11-13 title.

Elise La Borde completed a rare hat-trick of Girls 16-18 titles while Kahlan Francis won her first 14-15 championship, and is now close to her first appearance on the national junior team.

Isabella Ramdeen, who was forced to withdraw from the 2024 tournament due to injury, took her second 11-13 win in three years.

All the 2025 champions went gate-to-wire, establishing leads on the opening day and widening the gap from the chasing pack with each passing day.

Collier, who started playing only three years ago, stole the show with rounds of 76, 74, and 74 over the three days, ending with an eight-over-par total.

He held a 13-stroke lead going into the final day and said he kept his focus by pursuing a set score for each day.

“I just tried to beat my score every day. Even if I don’t beat it, just break 80—that is my goal in almost every tournament,” Collier said.

The International School student has his eyes set on a Division One college in the USA and hopes to play some international tournaments before the end of the year.

“I want to try and make the national team again this year, and then fly out to play in America or around the world to play more tournaments before the end of the year,” he said.

Collier, whose father Jason and brother James play the sport, chose golf over football and has never looked back.

He is expected to be part of the national team for the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships (CAJGC), which will be named ahead of the 2025 tournament in Puerto Rico from 29 July to 3 August.

Also favored to book his place on the national junior team is Ramkissoon, who took the 16-18 category with a three-day total of 230.

The Naparima College student held a five-stroke lead heading into the final day, but saw his advantage shrink to three shots after completing the 17th hole (they started on the back nine).

However, Adam Green double bogeyed the 18th hole, and Ramkissoon held his nerve to earn a par to push his lead back to five shots.

Ramkissoon started with two pars on the front nine and birdies on the third and fourth holes to improve his advantage as Green faltered after the disastrous 18th hole.

“I got four shots up on him in the first four holes, and after that I was just playing steady golf straight through so he wasn’t able to catch up to me,” he said.

On the ninth and final hole, Ramkissoon’s putt circled the hole before dropping, and the young golfer threw his hands up in the air in celebration.

“I really wanted that final putt to go in because I fought really hard in the front nine to pull back a good score because I did not play in the back nine,” he said.

“Just to see that putt go in, a lot of relief came over me, and I just said that I can finally relax now.”

With dreams of becoming either an aeronautical or computer engineer, Ramkissoon is looking forward to the chance to wear the national colors in Puerto Rico in what will be his final year as a junior.

“You get a lot of experience playing with different players from different countries and playing new courses,” he said. “So, I would really appreciate that experience to go out there and play my best.”

Meanwhile, Singh won his first 18-hole tournament at the Republic Bank Junior Golf Open Championships after his grandfather took ill on Tuesday night.

Singh did not sleep a wink after opening up a six-shot lead on Tuesday, and came to Moka to compete.

He got some good news from his caddy and went on to card an 82 on the final day and completed the win.

“He came back today, which is a good thing. When I got the good news from them (his parents), it was a lot of relief,” the Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School student said.

Singh recently sat the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) and has not been playing golf for the last two months in preparation for the exam.

So, was it easier to win the tournament than to write the SEA exam?

“To be honest, winning this was harder than SEA,” he said.

Singh has dreams of attending Naparima College.

“At Naparima, you can balance both sport and education,” he said.

On the women’s side, La Borde took the 16-18 category in a canter despite, by her own admission, not playing her best golf.

The Holy Faith Convent (Couva) student said there were many positives in her performance, but is aware that she will need to tighten up her game before what will be her final year as a junior player.

“I think I definitely made some not-so-great decisions on the course, and it cost me a few shots. I kind of underestimated certain things close to the greens, so that kind of threw me off a little bit,” she said.

Only three players entered the Girls 16-18 category, and La Borde encouraged more young women to enter the sport.

“Golf is a game that isn’t limited to any class, or one background, to one body image, or anything,” she said. “Golf is a game that is purely based on your mental abilities meshed with your physical abilities.”

La Borde, who now has three Girls 16-18 titles in the Championship, has her eyes set on the national senior team and a place in the US collegiate golf system.

First-time winner Khalan Francis was also not totally pleased with her play during the three-day tournament, but is proud of her achievement.

“In my opinion, I definitely feel that there are a lot of areas that I could improve on, mostly my short game. I don’t think my short game was up to par for the few days. So that is something I will work on for sure,” she said.

Francis, a Bishop Anstey High School (POS) pupil, is relishing the possibility of playing for the national team for the first time.

“It is a dream that I hope to achieve one day—it would mean so much,” she said. “I think to anyone representing your country at that level is such an important task.

“So, if I am selected for the national team, I would feel so happy […] and I hope I represent very well.”

The 14-year-old has her eyes on a career in law or psychology while playing college golf in the US.

Finally, for Isabella Ramdeen, her win in the Girls 11-13 category was especially sweet as she had to pull out of the event last year through illness.

“I am very proud that I won this tournament because I worked very hard to get to this point. Even though I did not play my best, I definitely stayed calm and kept my cool, and tried to play my best,” she said.

The ASJA Girls College (San Fernando) Form Two student thought her mental game was “pretty good” in the tournament as she put an opening day 91 behind her to card identical 83’s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ramdeen said that she wants to work on her short game ahead of possible national team duty in Puerto Rico.

She wants to put in the work as she is hoping to earn a scholarship to study marine biology in Florida.

Trinidad and Tobago Golf Association (TTGA) head Wayne Baptiste was a familiar sight throughout the tournament as he watched the young players in action.

He said he was impressed with what he saw at the Championships and feels the national junior teams will put in a stern challenge at the 2025 CAJGC.

“Having looked at the players who participated in this event today, I think we have a very, very good chance of being successful in the event,” he said.

Baptiste reaffirmed that there will be no National Junior Trials in 2025 and teams will be selected based on scores recorded in local tournaments.

Success in the 2025 Republic Bank Junior Open is a key part of securing the call to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the CAJGC.

National selector Chris Richards Snr explained what qualities were required for national selection.

“What we are looking for is character, how you deport yourself on the golf course. Obviously, your quality of play. Determination—playing with determination, playing for the team, playing to do yourself proud, to make your country proud,” he said.

“They must understand they are ambassadors for Trinidad and Tobago. So, how they deport themselves internationally affects the country as much as it affects them.”

The tournament has been supported by Republic Bank for 24 years, and Michelle Johnson, Marketing Manager, Business Segments, said the tournament continued to be a success.

“From the first tee off to the final putt, this tournament has been packed with energy, excitement, friendly rivalry, and unforgettable moments,” said Johnson.

“At Republic Bank, through our Power to Make a Difference program, we reinforce our commitment to youth development through sport, nurturing local talent, and creating pathways for your growth.”

The Republic Bank Junior Golf Open Championship will be without the talents of Ramkissoon and La Borde in 2026.

Both players are worthy champions and have left an indelible impression on the tournament.

However, the performances of Ethan Collier, Varin Singh, Kahlan Francis, and Isabella Ramdeen have shown that there will be more “energy, excitement, friendly rivalry, and unforgettable moments” in 2026.

HONOR ROLL

Boys 16-18

1. Ross Ramkissoon – 230
2. Adam Green – 242
3. Adam Lum Hee – 247

Girls 16-18

1. Elise La Borde – 265
2. Charissa Gordon – 361
3. Kryshel Singh – withdrew

Boys 14-15

1. Ethan Collier – 224
2. Zackery Sahadeo – 249
3. Aba Bally-Roopchan – 264

Girls 14-15

1. Kahlan Francis – 281
2. Madison Davis – 294
3. Dayna Cooper – 313

Boys 11-13

1. Varin Singh – 251
2. Josh Frankland – 260
3. Logan Cleghorn – 307

Girls 11-13

1. Isabella Ramdeen – 257
2. Hailey Layne – 305
3. Niahsha Abdool – 334

9-Holes – Boys

1. Christophe Ramnarine – 35
2. Harper Layne – 37
3. Zachary Sooknanan – 41

9-Holes – Girls

1. Kourtney Jairamsingh – 39
2. Hannah Chevrotiere – 41
3. Lara Jairamsingh – 45

6-Holes – Boys

1. Jivan Jorel Chaitoo – 32
2. Javan Leon – 33
3. Amare Hamid – 33

6-Holes – Girls

1. Keziah McConney – 30
2. Janaeyah Woods – 34
3. Zara Sookram – 36

3-Holes – Boys

1. Harrison Brown – 16
2. Kaleb McConney – 24

3-Holes – Girls

1. Emillia Ramdhanie – 15
2. Aniah Mustapha – 20