On one of the toughest days imaginable, with high winds & driving rain for most of the time, last years winners of this most prestigious event defended their title against all the best junior club teams in Gloucestershire. 96 players braved the freezing conditions to record some incredible scores; this was a record number for the event & shows the popularity of the fabulous Cotswold Hills Golf Course. 21 players from 10 clubs were on the reserve list, disappointed not to be able to play!!
The morning round was dominated by two great scores of 40 points by Josh Freeman (Broadway) & Jamie Graham (Minchinhampton) closely followed by an excellent round of 38 points by Victoria Wakeley-Jones (Cotswold Hills).
Andrew Scarrott (Cotswold Hills) returned 37 points with those on 36 points including, Jess Stevens (Lilley Brook), Shannon Millichap & Charlotte Pirie (Cotswold Edge), Jamie Dick (Forest Hills) & Ross Jenkins (Ross-on-Wye) Truly remarkable scores in the terrible conditions.
The 2nd round started in slightly warmer & drier weather, for about an hour! Then the players we subjected to driving sleet & hail & even higher winds, despite this the scores were even better.
A terrific 41 points for Jamie Graham (Minchinhampton) to go with his 40 points in the morning shows he is a player to watch for the future. This was matched by Jamie Dick & Lee Ayres (Forest Hills) who put their team in with a real chance of winning. Stephen Barter (Thornbury) & Kieran Sutton (Broadway) along with the formidable Victoriaa Wakeley-Jones (Cotswold Hills) all brought in 40 points for their teams.
Forest Hills were unlucky as their 3rd player in the afternoon recorded a no return so were overtaken by Cotswold Edge on the third score to count after both finished the day on 146. (2 best scores from each round to count & in the event of a tie the third players score applies).
There was a tense wait to see if the Cotswold Hills team would be able to keep their morning lead. Andrew Scarrott kept his nerve to bring in a score of 36 points & ensure that Cotswold Hills once again would represent Gloucestershire in the English Team Junior Finals, which this year is to be held at the lovely North Yorkshire course of Malton & Norton on August 21st & 22nd. On this form, they could so easily bring back the coveted national title.
All 96 players, some as young as 11 years old showed terrific sporting resilience on a very difficult day. They were a credit to
their clubs, their county & themselves.The future of golf in this county is in safe hands.
