Boys Win England Golf Northern Boys Qualifier
This year it was the turn of Durham to host, and they took us to Brancepeth Castle GC, a Harry Colt course of 6173 yards, par 70.
The weather on the day was cloudy with plenty of sunshine, apart from the rain arriving for the last couple of games playing the last two holes. The course was presented very well with good greens and some terrific par 3 holes!
It was good to see Tom Hartshorne who played in the qualifier and final of 2024 which we won back having missed last year’s, along with George Cooper and Ollie Scott who played in the event of last year. Newcomers were Harry Richmond, Archie Palmer, and Elliot Alcock, all good players. Will Bracha our Boys Captain, who was not in the team, came along to give support to the boys.
We got off to a steady start and our total at the turn for the team was level par and after sixteen holes we stood at 8 under so all going great, but alas we dropped four shots to finish on 4 under as a team at lunch. This was a terrific start for us with all the boys playing well with only two players over par! Cheshire however were chasing us down, as at the turn they were 5 over, but what a fight back of11 under on the back nine which included 3 eagles and nine birdies to put them on 6 under at lunch, 2 shots in front, so plenty for us to do in the afternoon.
The wind was stronger in the afternoon which was reflecting in the scoring where we went out as a team in 4 over, so team score back to level and with Cheshire going out in 5 over they were 1 under. George and Tom were playing good golf with little dropping and came in with a 68 and 69 respectively, a total of 3 under. With that score of 68 in the afternoon George won the afternoon individual prize (pictured below). Ollie once again played steady golf and followed his morning score of 68 with a level par round of 70. Archie had a bad run at four, five and six to be 4 over where he remained having birdied the ninth and bogeying the tenth. He then turned things around from the twelfth hole with eagle, birdie, par, birdie to be 1 under, but alas to drop one on the seventeenth to finish on 1 over 71.
Elliot too started poorly to be 2 over after three holes, but an amazing eagle on the sixth followed by a birdie on seven put him on 1 under. A few bad holes put him on 3 over after fourteen and by this time it was very close with the outcome depending on how Elliot finished and the last two Cheshire boys did. A birdie for Elliot on sixteen followed by a good putt for par on seventeen left him at 2 over with a lot riding on eighteen. A good drive down the last followed by a good second on to the green and with two putts for par secured the team win for Team Yorkshire!
We finished on 4 under, closely followed by Cheshire winners from last year on level par and in third Lancashire on 12 over. A great performance by Cheshire in defence of their title, but a tremendous team effort by all the Yorkshire Boys. I can honestly say I am so proud of their win where they played consistently well over two rounds with our worst counting score both rounds being a 2 over par, 72! As always team spirit was brilliant, they prepared well, worked well, played well and won well!
Finally, I must thank our coach, Craig Fricker who once again did a fantastic job in our preparation and being their supporting the boys throughout the tournament. Thanks to our supports of President Bruce, President Elect Alan, Secretary Jonathan, members of the executive and parents.
Terrific guys and now we progress to the final in the last week of August at Goswick GC.
Philip
Boys Manager
