Barbadian golfer Emily Odwin has secured her first professional top-10 finish, weeks into her professional career following the completion of her collegiate career in the United States. Odwin finished 9-under-par and tied for 10th at the Epson Smoky Mountain Championship in Alcoa, Tennessee. Barbados Golf Association President Damian Edghill hailed the performance as a “massive” achievement. “The jump from amateur status to professional is a massive one and I guess that will be in every competitor’s mind. So to be able to perform like this during her first month on the pro circuit is really an incredible achievement, which I am sure will boost her confidence going forward tremendously.

“Certainly at the Barbados Golf Association and I think I can say on behalf of the entire golfing community here, we’re extremely proud of Emily,” Edghill said.

He said Odwin’s progress, along with the lifelong example set by cricket icon Sir Garfield Sobers, who was also an avid golfer, could inspire the next generation of Barbadian players.