JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHINE IN INTER INSULAR

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHINE IN INTER INSULAR

Guernsey took a four man junior development team for the first time to Jersey at the weekend to play against the reds. The Guernsey team of Noah Davy, Lewis O’Brien, Shay Goddard and Dan Troop played fourballs on Saturday followed by singles on Sunday off handicap.

The idea was to give the players a taste of playing in an inter insular on a new course to help prepare them for the fixture in the years ahead. The boys were a welcome and key part of the whole group at the weekend providing invaluable support to the first team and this support was reciprocated with the senior team cheering their fellow greens on when they finished their matches..

The standard of golf from the development team was of the very highest quality.

In the Saturday fourballs Noah Davy joined up with Dan Troop against Jacob Townsend and Chloe Cadoret. Dan very kindly stepped in as a last minute replacement for Max Raffray. He has been a stalwart of Junior golf on the Island as well as an excellent player for many years. The boys were giving away plenty of shots and it was always going to be tough for them but they played some fabulous golf. After looking to be down and out at the turn they went on an incredible run of three birdies in five holes down the stretch. Noah is developing into some player and has a fantastic short game to compliment a hugely improved long game. The greens dovetailed brilliantly and eventually secured a 1up victory which they thoroughly enjoyed.

In the second match super talented Shay Goddard joined up with the youngest player in the group, ten year old Lewis O’Brien. Shay enjoyed his start to the weekend with an eagle at the par five 6th during the practice round in the morning. They were up against Ben Carvalho and Aiden Wilson. Lewis was playing from the yellow tees which was a considerable step up for him off the tee. Rather than intimidate him, it simply inspired him, supported by his older team mate, he played stunning golf, regularly out driving his older opponents and showing an incredible touch on and around the greens. The greens won a great match 4&3 and Lewis was around 7 over par gross with his own ball, a stunning effort.

The singles matches on day two saw more superb golf from the development team. Noah Davy had another great day and was very impressive in his 4&3 win. Shay Goddard battled hard but went down 5&4. Meanwhile Dan Troop was having an extraordinary day. He was giving away plenty of shots but had to play out of his skin to secure a one up victory. He would have scored 44 points if he was playing stableford!

The last junior out was Lewis O’Brien. The Hampshire u12 star has become a talisman for the Guernsey Junior team. Everyone from both teams was out to watch his classic encounter with Aiden Wilson and we got a glimpse into inter island golf in the future. Aiden has got a wonderful swing and ball striking skills to match but Lewis stepped up and went to to toe with his older opponent. Both were hitting bombs and hit big drives down 17. Lewis made a stunning par with a brilliant lag putt from off the green much to the delight of the watching greens. He then kept his composure to close out the match on the 18th for the most popular win of the weekend and a comprehensive win for the greens with only one loss in the whole series.

The addition of the development teams was a great success and we look forward to the same format again next year.

HISTORIC WIN FOR GUERNSEY IN JUNIOR INTER INSULAR

HISTORIC WIN FOR GUERNSEY IN JUNIOR INTER INSULAR

The Guernsey junior golf team won the Junior inter insular at La Moye for the first time since 1991 after a hard fought battle in the singles today.

Guernsey led 3-1 overnight and Conor Mckenna was chosen by Team Manager Mick Marley to lead the team out against Jersey Captain Ben Shield. The Jerseyman would have fancied his chances after winning his fourball match yesterday but he was no match for Conor today who was in outstanding form and he got the first point for the greens with a 6&5 win.

In the second match Jayden Tucknott played Jersey star Anabelle Lucas Villar, the lowest handicap player for the reds. Anabelle made her intentions clear hitting a quality shot to the first and Jayden knew he had a tough fight on his hands. A classic game of matchplay followed between two of the best young players in the Channel Islands. It was nip and tuck all the way and after Anabelle birdied the 17th it could have gone the other way but Jayden kept his cool to secure a precious half.

Match 4 saw Lewis Marley against Jersey Junior Champion Ryan Hafey. Lewis fought really hard against Ryan who was on his home course but in the end he went down 5&4.

James Troop was the next Guernsey player to bring home a point. He enjoyed a brilliant day yesterday and was at it again today. He was trading holes on the front nine with fellow rising Hampshire Junior Star Ben Carnegie-Bedlow before going on a superb streak culminating in a comprehensive 6&5 victory.

Guernsey were now one point from victory and the pressure was on Captain Rory Mckenna who was playing Iman Hamid-Wilkinson. Having tasted defeat yesterday the skipper wasn’t going to let it happen again and used all his experience and class to gain the upper hand against a quality opponent. On the 16th Rory had a putt for eagle to win the junior inter insular and he duly delivered, rolling the ball in the middle of the hole to win 3&2 and ensure Guernsey had regained the trophy.

There were three remaining matches out on the course and credit to Jersey they all went their way. Tanner Austin gave it his all but was fighting his swing all morning and came up against an inspired Nathan Crake-Jones. The match ended with a sporting concession from Tanner on the 18th and he lost by one hole. Jamie Trebert again played some excellent golf but his opponent Oliver Allchin was on fire today and eventually won 2&1. The last Guernsey player out was Chloe Domaille and she fell to defeat by Nic Lawrenson who was unstoppable today. He was one under par when they shook hands on the 12th. Chloe gave it everything as always and will be a key member of the ladies inter insular team in a few weeks.

So it was a thoroughly deserved victory to Guernsey with the final score 6.5 - 5.5.

Well done to Jersey who were always going to come back strong after a heavy defeat in the fourballs. With the majority of players on both sides still juniors next year, the 2023 inter insular promises to be a mouth watering clash in Guernsey. The match was played in great spirit with the encouragement players from both sides giving their opponents a pleasure to see.

Junior Captain Rory Mckenna lifted the trophy and the team picked up their medals. Team Manager Mick Marley made an excellent speech thanking Derek de La Haye and his team, our Jersey and La Moye hosts for their hard work and hospitality, words that were echoed by Captain Rory Mckenna when he spoke. Mick can be incredibly proud of his hard work and seeing his team bring the trophy home, a lovely reward for a Guernsey golfing legend.

A big thank you to the GGU, Lynne Coutanche for her support and Geoff Troop for his great work over the years that has helped get this fixture going again and for keeping parents updated with the matches and providing some great photos.

Also a special mention to Harry Bushby and Dan O’Brien who travelled over at their own expense to support the team. Harry kept our club social media channels updated and both provided invaluable support to the juniors which was absolutely vital this weekend and they will be a big part of junior golf on the island for many years to come.

A big thank you to the sponsors Ray Lowe Sporting Foundation and Appleby their investment in junior golf on the Island is essential.

It was a pleasure to be around all the juniors this weekend, we have a group of incredibly talented young golfers on the island who are always striving to be better. A great example of this is that having just won a historic inter insular after an exhausting weekend a number of the group were organising a range session at L’ancresse as soon as the plane landed back in Guernsey this evening.

The future of golf in the Island is in great hands

Junior Inter Insular 2022 Day 1

JUNIOR INTER INSULAR - GUERNSEY LEAD 3-1 AFTER FIRST DAY

Guernsey brought the heat on a scorching hot day at La Moye for the first day of the junior inter insular.

Guernsey Junior Captain Rory McKenna had the honour and struck a solid tee shot just to the left of the first green. He was playing alongside Chloe Domaille against Ben Shield and Ben Carnegie-Bedlow. It was a close battle for much of the front nine. Chloe hit one of the best shots of day on the par three 12th, striking a beautiful iron in to ten feet and holing a rapid right to left downhill putt for birdie. Unfortunately Guernsey lost the next hole and started to lose momentum, Ben Shield was playing some superb golf to keep them at bay. Rory hit a colossal drive on the 16th but needed a birdie to stay in match which he just missed and that meant the greens had lost the first match 2&1.

In the second match Conor Mckenna and Tanner Austin took on Jersey junior champion Ryan Hafey and Iman Hamid-Wilkinson. Conor got off to a great start hitting his opening shot to eight feet and although he missed the putt, a three was good enough to go one up. He then birdied the 4th and the good golf continued with Tanner holing a 10 foot putt for eagle on the 6th. Conor was in superb form and after holing a 45 foot bomb on the 9th, Guernsey were in total control. The end was in sight and they duly closed out the match 5&4 to put the first points on the board for the greens.

In the third match Jayden Tucknott and Lewis Marley took on La Moye Ladies course record holder Annabelle Lucas-Villar and Oliver Allchin. The boys came flying out of the blocks and were simply unstoppable on the day. They were five up after 6 with Lewis rolling in a superb putt for eagle on the 6th. A further birdie followed from Lewis on the 9th and there was nothing Jersey could do to stop them. Jayden didn’t put a foot wrong and with the boys level par betterball the end came with a crushing 7&5 victory.

The final match saw Jamie Trebert partner James Troop against Nic Lawrenson and Oliver Allchin. After an unscheduled delay due to having to allow a club fourball match through between the matches, it was a nervy wait for the boys. Open Championship winner Jamie kept his cool and hit a wonderful tee shot to 15 to get off to a great start. The Guernsey boys were two up after three after an incredible up and down from James for par on the third. It then became something of a ding dong battle with the four trading holes. Into the back nine the Guernsey pair were down and then James dropped a monster 50 foot putt from off the green on 13 only for the boys to lose the next hole. The match was getting tense but the Guernsey team stayed in the moment, James was putting beautifully and Jamie was backing him up. The match then took a dramatic turn on the 16th. With Jersey in the hole for par, James then sank a beautiful putt for birdie and all of a sudden the greens were one up. On the 17th Jamie and Nic hit huge drives but were unable to capitalise. James found the green with a solid second and to his credit Nic Lawrenson made a fantastic par which he must have thought would have kept the game alive. Up stepped that man James again to sink another birdie putt and it was all over 2&1 for a brilliant and important win.

It was an excellent day for the young greens but it’s far from over and all to play for on day two

Latest News