Betschart Finishes Fifth at Optimist Championship
Bermuda's Darina Betschart placed fifth in the Girls 14-18 division at the 2026 Optimist Tournament of Champions in Florida.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Golf
Darina Betschart finished fifth in a 29-competitor Girls 14-18 field at the 2026 Optimist Tournament of Champions, held October 31 to November 1 at Las Colinas Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Lewis MacFarlane finished fourth in the Boys 11-13 division at the same event.
Why it matters
The result gives Bermuda's junior golfers a strong showing at a major event in Florida. The tournament offers young players a competitive test against a large regional field.
Betschart shot 72 and 74 for a 146 total, four over par, in a field of 29 in the Girls 14-18 division. MacFarlane carded 79 and 73 for a 152 total, ten over par, after improving six shots on the second day.
The players
Darina Betschart
A Bermuda junior golfer who competes in the Girls 14-18 division of Optimist events.
Lewis MacFarlane
A Bermuda junior golfer who competed in the Boys 11-13 division at the 2026 Optimist Tournament of Champions.
The details
Betschart opened with a 72, one over par, and followed with a 74 on the second day. MacFarlane's round two 73 came after a 79 in round one, and he finished fourth in the Boys 11-13 division.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: First round of the Optimist Tournament of Champions.
November 1, 2026: Second round and conclusion of the tournament.
Next year: Betschart hopes to compete in the tournament again.
Season Trajectory
The Optimist International junior golf program stages age-division championships that let young players measure themselves against regional fields. Betschart's fifth-place finish and MacFarlane's fourth-place result add Bermuda competitors to that program's championship results.
Betschart's 146 total and MacFarlane's 152 total are the scores that set their finishes in the Optimist divisions. Junior golfers and families tracking Bermuda's results can use these figures to compare with other regional entries.
The takeaway
Junior golf events like the Optimist Tournament of Champions give young players measurable benchmarks in fields of similar age. Following scores across rounds shows how players respond after a difficult start.
Further reading
For more junior competition results, see the Golf section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bernews.
