Wiltshire Golf
Pictured above L-R: Ian Welding Junior Organiser, Max Mulcock, Dom Burgess, Jake Bolton, Tom Stagg, Dom Patton, Jamie Amor, James Cooper, Charlie Dunn, WCGU President, Jerry Gegg
Teignmouth Golf Club perched high above the town of Teignmouth with spectacular views across the town towards the sea played host to this seasons South West Counties under 18 Championship the championship took place on Wednesday 8th July. The Championship involved the six South West counties: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Devon was the host county for this year’s event while Wiltshire went into the championship as defending team champions having won the title last year on home soil at Bowood Golf Club. It was going to be very difficult for us to defend the title away from home and the job became even more difficult when our starting time for the practice round was put back one and a half hours later in the afternoon. This resulted in a late finish, an even later dinner and not ideal preparation when players had to be up at six o’clock the following morning. However, we were determined this set back was not going to disrupt our preparation and we have a great team spirit within the under 18 camp and this was very much in evidence over the two days.
Strong winds and driving rain greeted the players on championship morning it was clear from the start that patience and concentration were going to be tested to the maximum and these two areas were key for us to have any chance of bringing the trophy back to Wiltshire (plus a limitless supply of cookies, energy bars and drinks).
James Cooper started out first for Wiltshire followed by Jake Bolton both played excellent golf in the worst of the weather and got us off to a great start returning scores of 73 each leaving them in a tie for 3rd place in the individual competition after the morning 18 holes, it was now up to Tom Stagg the youngest member of the team to keep the momentum going Tom was not fazed by the task and played superb golf scoring 71 the second best individual score of the morning. Further solid performances from Jamie Amor and Dom Patton backed up by a battling performance from Charlie Dunn gave Wiltshire the perfect platform on which to build for the afternoon with the best five scores to count out of six it was difficult to gauge our position until all players had completed their morning round but we had given ourselves a chance.
The afternoon conditions were even harder than the morning, although the rain had stopped the wind had got stronger. The order of play was same as the morning with James and Jake leading the way for Wiltshire, both players continued were they left off in the morning playing fantastic golf in the now even stronger swirling wind, by coincidence shooting the same score as each other again to leave them in a tie for third place in the overall individual competition. Tom Stagg played the same exceptional golf as the morning finishing the day in second place overall in the individual competition a fantastic achievement for our youngest player, Wiltshire now had three of the best afternoon scores of the early players which was good news for the team event and with the later starters struggling in the wind my finger nails were reducing in size considerably. We needed to display patience and concentration to keep our title challenge on track with Jamie, Dom and Charlie battling hard to make sure the score did not get away from them. Dom typified the dig deep attitude getting off to a bad start he recovered brilliantly and returned a score that would give us a fighting chance in the team competition it was now time to get the calculator out and stand nervously watching the scoreboard waiting for the scores to come in.
Things were looking good for Wiltshire as more scores were posted on the board however as the old saying goes it is not over till it is over and two or three scores could change the whole picture, the scoreboard was surrounded by officials from the different counties all trying to work out the positions with only a few score to come in it was clear Wiltshire were in a very strong position. The only time I could relax over the two days was when the Wiltshire President Jerry Gregg said to me we are leading by 20 shots with one score to come in and shortly after the South West Secretary confirmed Wiltshire had won by 20 shots.
What a great day for Wiltshire county golf, the boys were fantastic and to win by 20 shots away from home in very difficult conditions was an incredible performance. The team spirit over the two days was excellent, the boys attitude and commitment in very difficult playing conditions was superb and the most pleasing thing apart from the result was the way the boys conducted themselves both on and off the golf course they are a credit to the county, their parents and themselves. WELL DONE BOYS!
I would also like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to the Wiltshire County Golf Union President Jerry Gegg and all the parents who came down to Devon their help and support over the two days were very much appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Ian Welding
Wiltshire County Golf Union
County Junior Organiser and
Under 18 Team Manager