Warwickshire Junior Golf News June 2021

JUNE 2021

Perfection!

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Providing support and opportunities for young golfers

WITH everything that we’ve had to deal with over the last few months, it’s lovely to see junior
golfers enjoying the chance to play in the glorious sunshine again.

And what a start to the season it has been, and in particular the opening event of the Warwickshire
Junior Order of Merit as Nuneaton hosted a well-attended Junior Open in the half term break.

A full report of the event is covered in this edition of Warwickshire Junior Golf News, including
details of a very special achievement from ‘ace’ golfer Joseph Williams, who described his hole-in-
one as the ‘best day of his golfing life’.

Credit must go to Nuneaton for helping make it such a special occasion for Joseph though, since
the host club organised, within a few hours, a commemorative medal to be produced and then
awarded to the 14-year-old in the presentation ceremony.

It was a magnificent gesture from a Club, who are putting
a lot of hard work into promoting the sport to the next
generation of golfers. And I’m delighted they were
rewarded with a wonderfully successful event in 2021.

But they’re not alone in receiving recognition for their
attempts to make junior golf fun and enjoyable in
Warwickshire, with The Belfry’s Anthony Bridgeman
(pictured) being nominated for the England Golf
Young Ambassador of the Year.

Described as ‘an inspirational young man
who didn’t let challenges with autism and
dyspraxia stop him promoting junior and
disability golf’, Anthony was also awarded
his county colours last month.

Warwickshire Golf, in partnership with
Warwickshire Ladies County Golf
Association, are proud of all our young
golfers and we will continue to provide
more opportunities for boys and girls, of
all ages and abilities, to be successful.

For example, we are giving the better
golfers the chance to compete in three
36-hole tournaments as part of the
Junior Order of Merit. As a contrast,
those new to the game can show their
developing skills in the Warwickshire
Wee Wonders at Lea Marston on
Sunday, October 3rd.

Please support these events and others,
as we will continue to support you.

Steve Jackson
Warwickshire Junior Golf News Editor

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2021 Warwickshire Junior Order of Merit

Qualifying Event Venue Date
Junior Open 1 Nuneaton Wednesday, June 2nd
Girls Stableford Series 1 Sutton Coldfield Sunday, July 18th
Junior Open 2 (36 holes) Olton Thursday, July 22nd
Junior Open 3 The Warwickshire Friday, July 23rd
Junior Open 4 Robin Hood Monday, July 26th
Girls Stableford Series 2 Maxstoke Park Tuesday, July 27th
County U18’s Boys Championship Coventry Thursday, July 29th
County Girls Championship Stratford Oaks Friday, July 30th
Junior Open 5 Coventry Hearsall Tuesday, August 3rd
Junior Open 6 Stratford On Avon Thursday, August 5th
Junior Open 7 Copt Heath Thursday, August 12th
County U14’s Boys Championship North Warwickshire Tuesday, August 17th
Junior Open 8 (36 holes) Ladbrook Park Monday, August 23rd
Junior Open 9 Kenilworth Friday, August 27th
Junior Open 10 Maxstoke Park Thursday, September 2nd

Grand Final Venue Date
Junior Order of Merit (18-hole) Coventry Sunday, September 19th
Junior Order of Merit (Nine-hole) Coventry Sunday, September 19th

Non-Qualifying Event Venue Date
Junior Open Edgbaston Sunday, June 27th
Junior Open Coventry Tuesday, August 19th
Girls Stableford Series 3 Coventry Hearsall Sunday, September 26th
Warwickshire Wee Wonders Lea Marston Sunday, October 3rd

Warwickshire Junior Golf News 3

Two narrow defeats for County Boys teams

NINE debutantes were involved in
a Warwickshire Boys Under-14’s
team that lost a thrilling contest with
Shropshire and Herefordshire by a
single point at Copsewood Grange
GC.

Josh Gardner (pictured) and Team
Captain Callum Lee (6&4) and Miles
Pegg and Armaan Singh Basra (7&6)
gave the hosts the ideal start with big
wins in the opening two ties.

Vice Captain Sam Price and Charlie
England maintained the County lead as
they grabbed a battling half.

The visitors responded by taking the
next two points with holes to spare,
meaning the overall result came
down to the final match, which
Warwickshire trailed by two with four
holes to play.

Alfie Mitchell and Ethan Gall did
brilliantly did take the 15th and 17th
holes to level the contest.

But they were unable to match the gross
par of the away duo on the closing hole
as Shropshire and Herefordshire took the
spoils.

A slow start for Warwickshire Boys Under-
16’s team, meanwhile, ultimately proved
costly in their match against Leicestershire
and Rutland as they lost another exciting
game by the scoreline 4½-3½ at Rugby GC.

With the visitors taking the first two games
with holes in hand, Ryan Gavin bagged the
first success for Warwickshire with a 4&2 win,
before Lennon O’Neill-Knibbs
snatched a half.

Gardner added a further
home point on the 18th
hole, but Louis Taylor’s
4&2 victory was the only
other positive for the
Warwickshire team as the
away outfit grabbed the
honours.

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Cave impresses in MGU Team Event

WARWICKSHIRE Boys Under-18’s team came agonisingly close to their
first Midland County Team Championships title since 2008 as they finished

runner-up to Leicestershire and Rutland in the 2021 tournament at
Ashbourne GC.

The team of Seb Cave (pictured), Oliver Clark, Sam Easterbrook,
Alex Ford, Ryan Gavin and Charlie Lamb led at the half way stage

as they posted a total of 366 in the morning on the
Derbyshire course.

Chasing a record-equalling eighth victory in
the event, the Warwickshire lads maintained
their consistency in the second round, but
they couldn’t quite match the brilliance
of Leicestershire and Rutland, who
triumphed by seven shots on 732.

Cave had the consolation of securing
the individual prize as the Warwickshire
teenager fired magnificent rounds of
70 and 71 to finish three shots ahead
of Michael Baines, Daniel Haycocks
and William Plant.

Tap-Ins

WARWICKSHIRE Boys Under-14’s team travel SOPHIE Goonewardane-Brown (pictured

to Halesowen GC to take on Worcestershire below) clinched the girls top prize in the

on Sunday, June 13th. Any support would be Progress Junior Golf event at Wellingborough

appreciated. GC as The Warwickshire GC member bagged

SEB Cave, Ryan Gavin, Sam Easterbrook, Alex 35 points.

Ford, Chanon James, Charlie Faulkner, Elliot TO find out where to play in junior competitions

Clarkson, Niall Collins, Oliver Clark, Thomas in the county, region and country as a whole,

Poole and Lennon O’Neill-Knibbs have added please visit www.progressjuniorgolf.com.

their names to the ballot for entry into the English

Under-18’s Championship at Farnham GC in

Surrey on June 25th-27th.

FINLEY Stokes and Sam Easterbrook secured
a Warwickshire one-two in the Robert Rock
Junior Golf Tour event at Sandwell Park GC as
they grabbed the leading couple of spots in the
Boys Under-18’s. Arisha Virik was successful
in the Girls Under-12’s competition.

SUTTON Coldfield and Stonebridge golf courses
are hosting tournaments on Robert Rock Junior
Golf Tour over the coming weeks as the series
of events for boys and girls continues to go from
strength-to-strength.

Warwickshire Junior Golf News 5

Youngsters show their skills in Nuneaton Junior Open

THE opening event of the 2021 Warwickshire Junior Order of Merit attracted one of the biggest
county fields of young golfers in recent history as Nuneaton Golf Club held
it’s Junior Open in early June.
With the sun shining through the day, 74 boys and girls took part in
the 18-hole and nine-hole competitions, including 55 players from the
home county.
Chanon James (Coventry) won the Boys gross prize
by two from Finley Stokes (Atherstone) after a
round of 74, while Katie Drew (Copt Heath)
clinched the Girls gross competition with 81.
The net category witnessed two superb
winning scores as Ladbrook Park’s
Juan Piennar (pictured right) led the
Boys section on 62, while Jessica
Davies (The Warwickshire) carded 63
to beat Ella Tandy (Robin Hood) by
four in the Girls.
In the Nine-hole Championship,
which is aimed at younger golfers
with a high handicap or no handicap
at all, an excellent round of net 24
took the honours for William Hardy
(Maxstoke Park).
The shot of the day came
from Joseph Williams (Moor
Hall) as the 14-year-old
(pictured below) found the
bottom of the cup with his
tee shot on the 17th hole to win
a commemorative hole-in-one
medal from Nuneaton Golf Club.

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Download Nuneaton Junior Open photos at www.progressjuniorgolf.com

Warwickshire Junior Golf News 7

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