Worcestershire County Golf Ltd
EG BOYS U18 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
EG BOYS U18 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Perhaps the most prestigious event in the junior golfing calendar took place this week at Wollaton Park GC Nottingham. It was the EG Boys U18 County Team Championships where the 10 midland counties field a team of 6 players and each one plays 36 holes in a stroke play format. To determine the winner, 5 of the 6 players scores for each of the 2 rounds are added together and the county with the lowest total number of shots progress to represent the Midlands in the national finals.
With over 9100 shots being played by the 10 teams during the day, what was the chances of 2 teams finishing with the same total number of shots played - quite high as it turned out? With our team of Philip Krone, Louie Stott, James Ilsley, James Humphries, Mark Hewlett and Cassius Blake, Worcestershire led by the narrowest of margins at the halfway stage. With the scores so tight, the lads who had achieved an outstanding team score of 2 over par for the 5 counting rounds had to try and maintain a similar high standard of play throughout the afternoon in rather more challenging conditions. The wind started to blow, there were occasional bursts of rain so it would be difficult although not impossible to repeat the morning performance.The boys battled the conditions and the situation superbly well and an impressive finish from many of the team especially Mark Hewlett who finished with 3 successive birdies put us back in contention for a possible victory.
It turned out that Leicestershire and Rutland (one county) had also played well and we had to wait to discover how their final player had performed before the final scores could be determined. As all the players anxiously watched the screen for the final outcome - it eventually appeared. A TIE!! Both teams achieved a total team score of 718 shots - that's 10 rounds of golf at an average of 71.8 strokes per round - an incredibly impressive performance by everyone in the team who had all contributed to the overall team score during the tournament. However the screen was showing that Leicestershire & Rutland had finished in 1st position with Worcestershire 2nd. No play off, no penalty shootout or rock paper scissors to determine the winner? No it was determined by the back 9 scores of the afternoon round. Gutted! The disappointment was obvious. Nevertheless, what a performance by the team. We were very impressed and proud not only with their play but also their attitude and conduct in what was an extremely pressurised environment.
So with Worcestershire coming 3rd last year, 2nd this year perhaps we should polish the mantelpiece in anticipation of the 2023 tournament at Kirby Muxloe GC.
Our thanks and gratitude goes to all the parents who gave up their valuable time to transport the boys to and from the venue and without whom entering competitive teams in these events would not be possible. Thanks to Mark Hewlett and Kevin Fee for their invaluable support; to the MGU for organising the event and to Wollaton Park GC for their hospitality and producing an excellent golf course in great condition. Also thanks to MGU's Brian Peplow, a past junior team manager who came along to support the Worcestershire team throughout the day.
Roger Martin (Team Manager)
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