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Tuesday, January 06, 2026
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Betschart Holds his Nerve to Secure top-15 Finish in Miami
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Bermuda’s Oliver Betschart has concluded a landmark week in Florida by securing a hard-fought tie for 11th place at the 62nd Junior Orange Bowl International Championships.
The 17-year-old followed up his brilliant third-round 68 with a steady final-day 70, finishing the prestigious four-day event at two-under-par overall. Competing against an elite global field at the historic Biltmore Golf Course, Betschart demonstrated the kind of resilience that has become his trademark, navigating a "rollercoaster" final round to remain in the upper echelons of the leaderboard.
His final 18 holes were a testament to his "never say die" attitude. While his round was punctuated by four bogeys, he countered them with five clinical birdies and nine crucial pars. It was a day where timely putting proved to be the difference-maker, allowing him to recover from early setbacks and finish strongly in the Florida heat.
Across the 72-hole marathon, Betschart’s statistical consistency was impressive:
Birdies: 15
Pars: 47
Total Score: 282 (-2)
The Junior Orange Bowl is renowned for its unforgiving layout, and while Betschart had to overcome a triple bogey and a double bogey earlier in the week, his ability to bounce back helped him outperform dozens of the world's top-ranked juniors.
By finishing T11th, Betschart adds his name to the list of Bermudians who have excelled at the Coral Gables venue, following in the footsteps of his mentor Kim Swan. With the international season now in full swing, this top-half finish provides a significant confidence boost for the young islander as he prepares for upcoming regional assignments in the Caribbean and South America.
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Monday, January 05, 2026
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Betschart Remains in the Hunt after Impressive Third Round
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Teenager Oliver Betschart has surged up the leaderboard at the 62nd Junior Orange Bowl International Championships, carding a brilliant three-under-par 68 to move into a tie for 11th place.
Competing at the historic Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, the 17-year-old showcased remarkable consistency during his third round to put himself firmly in the top half of the elite international field. Following a steady start to the tournament, Betschart’s moving-day performance was characterized by safe play and clinical putting, as he navigated the challenging Florida layout with 15 pars and three crucial birdies.
The result leaves Betschart at one-under-par for the championship heading into the final 18 holes. His statistical breakdown across the three days highlights a resilient approach to the Biltmore’s grainy greens; in total, he has racked up 10 Birdies and 38 Pars. While a mid-round Triple Bogey earlier in the week threatened to derail his momentum, he has largely avoided trouble, recording just four Bogeys and a single Double Bogey throughout the 54 holes played thus far.
The Junior Orange Bowl is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in junior golf, with a winner's list that includes the likes of Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia. Betschart, will be looking to break into the top ten during Tuesday's final round as he aims to follow in the footsteps of the island's most decorated golfers on the world stage.
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Saturday, December 27, 2025
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Bermuda’s Rising Star Betschart Signs with Colorado State
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Colorado State University has pulled off a major recruitment coup, securing the signature of Bermudian golfing sensation Oliver Betschart. The 17-year-old, who made global headlines as the youngest player to compete on the PGA Tour in a decade, has officially committed to the Rams’ NCAA Division I programme, starting in August 2026.
Betschart, grew up honing his craft at the iconic Port Royal Golf Course, chose the Fort Collins institution over several other high-profile suitors.
The move represents a significant step up for the young amateur, as Colorado State is set to transition into the highly competitive Pac-12 Conference next year. By joining the Rams, Betschart follows in the footsteps of distinguished alumni like four-time PGA Tour winner Martin Laird.
Despite his youth, Betschart arrives in Colorado with a resume that belies his years; in 2023, at just 15, he qualified for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, becoming the youngest Bermudian ever to compete at that level.
The Rams' coaching staff are landing a player known for his tactical maturity and a "short game" that has already been tested against some of the world’s best professionals. While the thin air and colder climate of the Rockies will present a new challenge for the islander, his experience competing in the Atlantic winds of Bermuda has prepared him for the elements.
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Friday, December 19, 2025
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Newton Surges to Fecchio Junior Cup Victory
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The 38th Fecchio Junior Cup concluded at the Turtle Hill Golf Club in dramatic fashion, as Arman Newton overturned an overnight deficit to claim the prestigious Blue Division title.
After opening with a 61, Newton returned to the par-three layout to card a 60, bringing his two-round aggregate to 121 to secure a hard-fought victory. Newton's resilient final round was a true test of character, as he balanced two Birdies and 12 pars against two Bogeys, a Double Bogey, and a costly Quadruple Bogey to hold off a charging field.
The performance of the day belonged to Isaiah O'Brien, who delivered the lowest score of the final round with a 5-over par 59. O'Brien's scorecard was a picture of consistency with one Birdie, 13 Pars, and just two Bogeys and two Double Bogeys, allowing him to climb into a tie for second with a total score of 122.
Overnight leader Johnny Bart, who dazzled with a masterclass 56 in the first round, struggled to find the same rhythm in his second outing. Bart eventually carded a 66 to finish with a total of 122, having to settle for third place behind Newton and O’Brien.
In the White Division, Charles Smith solidified his status as the man to beat throughout the tournament. Following an opening 62, Smith returned to card a 69 for a combined total of 131, comfortably ahead of his nearest rivals. Damian Moniz finished second after posting back-to-back rounds of 68 for a 136 total, while Fletcher Logie rounded out the top three with a total score of 138 after improving on his opening 70 with a final round 68.
The Red Division saw Bradford Laing demonstrate exceptional consistency to top the leaderboard. Laing followed his opening 66 with a 65 to finish on 131, a full 18 strokes ahead of runner-up Joshua Cann, who posted rounds of 78 and 71 for a 149 total. Lorcan McGlynn completed the podium with a total score of 163 after rounds of 81 and 82.
In the Handicap Divisions, where Stableford points were the order of the day, Jacob Garrett claimed the Gold Division title for the under-11s. Garrett improved significantly on his opening 42 points by racking up 56 on the final day, while Leo Sund took second after improving from 40 to 57 points. Cyril Jones finished third, moving from 36 to 52 points.
The Yellow Division for over-11s was led by Thomas Troughton, who followed his opening 41 with a final round 49. Poppy Parry claimed second with rounds of 34 and 38, while Zara Soutter finished third after slipping from an opening 39 to 32 points in her final round.
Click Here to see the Full 38th Fecchio Junior Cup Final Round Results
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Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Johnny Bart Shines as Fecchio Junior Cup Gets Underway
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 Johnny Bart and Arman Newton IslandStats.com
In the marquee Blue Division, Johnny Bart delivered a masterclass in iron play to seize the clubhouse lead. Bart, a known specialist on this course, carded an impressive two-over-par 56 to establish a narrow two-shot cushion. He is closely pursued by Lewis MacFarlane, whose 58 keeps him firmly in contention, while Arman Newton sits in third place after a resilient 61.
The White Division saw Charles Smith emerge as the man to beat after the first 18 holes. Smith’s gross 62 gives him a comfortable six-shot advantage over Damian Moniz, who carded a 68, with Cillian McGlynn just one stroke further back in third.
The handicap divisions provided plenty of drama of their own, led by a high-scoring battle in the Gold Division. Jacob Garrett leads the way for the under-11s with 42 points, narrowly edging out Leo Sund and Benjamin Ivey, who are currently locked in a tie for second with 40 points apiece.
In the Yellow Division, Thomas Troughton proved his mettle by racking up 41 points to lead the field. Zara Soutter remains within striking distance on 39, while Poppy Parry rounds out the top three with 34 points heading into Friday's final round.
The day was also marked by several moments of individual brilliance during the "Closest to the Pin" challenges. Adam Roberts claimed the honors for the Blue Division on the 13th, while Connor Sousa showed his accuracy on the 2nd for the White Division. Bradford Laing, who also leads the Red Division with a gross 66, took the prize on the 1st, and Yellow Division leader Thomas Troughton capped off a fine day by winning the challenge on the 7th.
Click Here to see the Full 38th Fecchio Junior Cup First Round Results
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