Juniors are the future of the game
FINALS
The top British juniors tackled some of the top courses in Andalucia Spain in what is widely believed to be the toughest test in junior golf.
As in previous years, five rounds played but on this occasion the conditions were the toughest ever.
Alcaidesa Links was the venue for the first two rounds, with the better score carried forward.
Alcaidesa Heathland, a favourite with low handicappers and professionals, was wet and windy. Again with the better score carried forward.
On the fifth day the youngsters and all the golfing parents were joined by sponsors and journalists for a four-man scramble competition at the fabulous Finca Cortesin GC (venue for the Volvo World Matchplay) for a bit of fun as well as giving the finalists an opportunity of using this as a practise round.
On the sixth and final day our top guns went back to Finca Cortesin only to encounter such windy conditions that balls were rolling off the slick fast greens.
In the girls section 15 year old Bronte Law from Bramhall GC in Cheshire was attempting to retain the title she won last year by eight shots. In the first round she was five under par playing the 10th on the Alcaidesa Links course and with father Tim caddying she was given the wrong line off the tee and she triple bogeyed but steadied herself to return a level par 72. On the fourth day, playing the Heathland course, she was heading for a ladies course record when her ball spun back off the green into the lake on the short par-3 14th making an ugly seven. She still managed to par the course!
Her main challenger was Scotland’s Lesley Atkins very determined to win. She had to wait until the 2nd hole on the last day to catch Bronte but very fast greens and gale-force winds un-nerved her and she began to three and four putt.
Tiffany Hewetson from East Brighton GC was making her fourth, and last, appearance in this championship and her last day’s score saw her overtake Lesley for second place.
12-year old Eloise Healey from Lee Hall GC in Liverpool playing off eight became the youngest finalist and no doubt she will become a future champion. On the last day she won the prize for the best net score of the day.
In the boys section, a close finish was predicted and Leon Fricker from Yelverton GC in Devon playing off +2 remained the hot favourite throughout, even though his friend David Blick from East Devon shot a magnificent 3-under par 69 on the first day to take a one-shot lead over Leon.
David Blick failed to improve his score and new challengers stepped forward in the shape of East Yorkshire’s Jonathan Fisher and Craig Cameron from Wentworth.
Jonathan drew level with Leon on the 17th hole of the final round at Finca Cortesin and had a putt, albeit long, to take the outright lead. He three putted and now needed to do something really special on the long par-5 18th to win. But it was Leon who birdied the finishing hole and winning the title by two shots.
Fred Moghadam, the Tournament Director & Events Co-ordinator, declared “this has, by far, been the strongest field ever assembled for this event which started back in 1994 as the Sunday Express under-14s and saw the likes of Luke Donald, Justin Rose & Nick Dougherty all making the Finals but all finishing third! As in previous years, the winners were champions on as well as off the golf course, their mannerism, dress sense and behaviour was exemplary”.
One father and his finalist son were reported to their golf club in England for "ungentlemanly conduct".
Final placings:
GIRLS
1- Bronte LAW 72 + 74 + 72 = 218
2- Tiffany HEWETSON 76 + 77 + 75 = 228
3- Lesley ATKINS 74 + 75 + 80 = 229
4- Alison KNOWLES 81 + 81 + 80 = 242
5- Lauren DAVIS 84 + 76 + 85 = 245
6- Hannah MANNION 79 + 82 + 92 = 253
7- Eloise HEALEY 86 + 88 + 82 = 256
Standard Scratch Scores (SSS): Round One 75, Round Two 76, Round Three 78
BOYS
1- Leon FRICKER 69 + 70 + 79 = 218
2- Jonathan FISHER 69 + 74 + 77 = 220
3- Craig CAMERON 72 + 73 + 78 = 223
4- David BLICK 69 + 74 + 82 = 225
5- Julian TAYLOR 76 + 73 + 79 = 228
6- Joshua JOHNSON 74 + 73 + 82 = 229
7- Paul KINNEAR 70 + 84 + 77 = 231
8- Adam WOODHEAD 75 + 79 + 81 = 235
9= Tiernan LINDSAY 74 + 79 + 84 = 237
Ben SAYER 72 + 80 + 85 = 237
Glenn SENIOR 74 + 80 + 83 = 237
12= Max McGRAIL 76 + 81 + 84 = 241
James REESON 72 + 81 + 88 = 241
14- Joe SULLIVAN 78 + 85 + 85 = 248
15- Chris ALCOCK 76 + 84 + 89 = 249
16- Luke BURTON 75 + 91 + 87 = 253
17- Max EVERETT-ROSE 78 + 84 + 96 = 258
18= Alex PRITCHARD 76 + 76 + NR = NR
Bradley READ 77 + NR + NR = NR
Standard Scratch Scores (SSS): Round One 74, Round Two 75, Round Three 78
Watch this space for details & entry forms for the next championship which will be published here at the end of March.
