OLLIE CHEDHOMME WINS THE HAMPSHIRE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

OLLIE CHEDHOMME WINS THE HAMPSHIRE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Ollie Chedhomme became the first Guernsey player to win the Hampshire Junior Boys Championship since Peter Wilcox in 1978 with a brilliant victory at Lee on Solent yesterday. The par 69 course offered a great test with fantastic greens and particularly demanding back to back par threes on the back nine. Playing in the last group, Ollie was drawn with home favourites Harvey Denham and Harrison Price, both formidable players with Denham off +4. In the morning round Ollie carded an excellent level par 69 gross which included six birdies and found himself in joint first place after the first round. With two other players a shot back, it was all set up for a fantastic finish and it didn’t disappoint. Ollie got off to a fast start in the afternoon and was two under after three and was looking like he was starting to take charge. However a run of four consecutive bogeys threatened to de-rail his championship. He kept his head though and showed great resilience to fight back. Ollie was trailing Rowlands castle’s James Plater by a shot as they came down the stretch but he hit trouble on the 17th when his ball plugged in a bunker. Ollie hit an excellent tee shot on the same hole which just trickled off the green leaving him a tricky up and down. He was unfortunate to make a bogey and when he stepped on the 18 he was completely unaware of the situation at the top of the leaderboard. He then proceeded to hit a tremendous tee shot leaving him 118 yards into the green from the semi rough. He flighted a superb 50 degree wedge which spun back to seven feet. Although he didn’t know it, the putt was for the championship and he calmly proceeded to slot it in the middle of the cup to much to the delight of the watching Guernsey support. It was the biggest victory of Ollie’s career and fitting that in his last junior event he leaves as a county champion. His 36 hole total of 141 (+3) included ten birdies but it was his temperament that was just as impressive as his brilliant play. He can proudly add his name to the list of past winners that includes Justin Rose and Richard Bland - an outstanding achievement.

Guernsey had eleven players in the championships and our juniors secured four top ten finishes in the main event highlighting the strength in depth of junior golf on the island. Tanner Austin was the next highest Guernsey player in 6th courtesy of a fantastic 70 gross (+1) in the second round which was the lowest score in the field in the afternoon. Just behind him was Rory Mckenna with Conor Mckenna in 9th.

In the u13 championships our youngest players performed brilliantly. Alex Mills shot a superb 81 to win the second gross prize with a great round of golf. Thomas Chamberlain had a great day shooting the third best gross score of 83 resulting in winning the nett prize with a 66. Both boys have been in the Hampshire development squad this season and will have been sure to impress the Hampshire selectors for next season with their outstanding performances. A major junior event would not be complete without Lewis O’Brien showcasing his wonderful talent and he was at it again plotting his way around the course superbly to win runner up nett in his category and finish 8th gross.

It was an incredible championship courtesy of the great team at Hampshire Golf at a wonderful venue. Huge congratulations to Ollie on an outstanding win and to all the Guernsey players. Every single one of them played amazing golf at times and they were an absolute credit to the game on the island. Finally a big thank you to Ray Lowe Sporting Foundation and Appleby for their immense support of junior golf, and to the GGU.

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

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