Junior Tractor Boys Victorious in Devon

Wiltshire Golf

Junior Tractor Boys Victorious in Devon

The 2023 South West Counties under 16/14 Championship was held at the picturesque and demanding Woodbury Park Golf Club near Exeter on Thursday 1st June. The course par of 72 provided a real test for some of the best under 16 and 14 juniors in the region - a long golf course with thick rough to catch any wayward tee shots. The venue was previously owned by motor racing legend Nigel Mansell, and was in superb condition with fast running fairways making it even more challenging. This was a thinking person’s course which required excellent course management strategy skills and patience especially in a stiff breeze that swirled around the course and added to the difficulty. The importance of a good game plan was emphasised repeatedly by our county head coach John Jacobs and Manager Ian Welding during Wednesday’s practice round; be too aggressive on the wrong hole and you could run up a big score in next to no time. Thankfully the boys took on board their observations and played some excellent golf showing great maturity in plotting their way around the course.

Last year's Wiltshire Men’s County Champion Ayden Knight (Tidworth Golf Club) got the team off to a solid start, and although he was a little disappointed with his 76, he was only two shots away from winning the individual championship. It was a good score in the conditions. Next player in for Wiltshire was Seth Barfoot (Cumberwell Park Golf Club) Seth played some solid golf to score 78 and put Wiltshire right in touch with early leaders Devon. A further solid performance from Thomas Le Leivre (Broome Manor), kept Wiltshire up with the leaders. James Biggs (Wrag Barn Golf Club) and Sam Hathaway (Chippenham Golf Club) came in with a couple of decent scores but Wiltshire started to slip back down the leaderboard. Things started to look a bit desparate for the Tractor Boys, but, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Jack Mawer (Broome Manor Golf Club) produced one of the rounds of the day to catapult Wiltshire right back in to the mix. Jack who is only 12 years old, showed maturity beyond his years to shoot a brilliant 75, his score was only bettered by one other person during the entire day. Excellent rounds by Charlie O’Dowd (Marlborough Golf Club) and Riley Banks (Wrag Barn Golf Club) followed and Wiltshire were once again in with a shout of the team title. Spare a thought for the anchor man of our team, James Tweed who played in the last group out; it’s always very difficult at the back, especially when it is hot and the round is very slow. However, James stuck to his task and his score definitely helped the team.

All the players were finally in the clubhouse, then the difficult bit started, trying to work out the team scores and who had won. The team title is decided by adding each counties best seven gross scores out of their nine players together. After expending a lot of nervous energy and a lot of calculating, Wiltshire were declared the winners. This is only the second time we have won the team championship in our history. The success of Wiltshire county junior golf is built around being part of a team and playing for each other, we have a brilliant team spirit which runs throughout all our county junior squads.

Representing your county at any sport, but particularly golf, is not just about how well you play it is also about how well you conduct yourself both on and off the golf course when playing for Wiltshire. We could not be more proud of the boys the way they played and conducted themselves both on and off the golf course was exemplary they were a credit to the county, their clubs, parents and themselves. We must also pay special thanks to all the parents who accompanied the boys during the two days their help and support was very much appreciated. A big thank you to Colin Rossiter for all his help in putting together the trip to Devon and his help throughout the season. We must also say a massive thank you to Linda Brown the Wiltshire County President for all the incredible support she gives to the Wiltshire county junior teams. Almost last but by no means least we must take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to our County Head Coach John Jacobs for all the hard work he put in both during and prior to the championship, the county are very fortunate to have such an outstanding professional as our head coach.

Finally, a huge thank you to County Boy's team manager Ian Welding. Ian lives, breathes, eats and sleeps Wiltshire Golf. His infectious enthusiasm, optimism and hard work makes a massive contribution to our success at this level. We are a tiny County, but we return amazing results, and a lot of this is down to Ian and his team.

Pictured above are the victorious team with SWCGA President Glyn Rowett

U16 INDIVIDUAL GROSS CHAMPIONSHIP:

1st Place: JAXSON PERRY (GLOUCESTERSHIRE) 74

2nd Place: TOMMY MILLER (CORNWALL) 75

3rd Place: DOMINIC HARRINGTON (DORSET) 75

U16 INDIVIDUAL NETT:

1st Place: JACK THORPE (DEVON) 68

2nd Place: JACK MAWER (WILTSHIRE) 70

3rd Place: TOMMY MILLER (CORNWALL) 72

U14 INDIVIDUAL GROSS CHAMPIONSHIP:

1st Place: JAXSON PERRY (GLOUCESTERSHIRE) 74

2nd Place: JACK MAWER (WILTSHIRE) 75