Junior European Open reaches climax
Andalucia Junior European Open in association with the Daily Express Sam & Sam show Tiger Woods style of front running was needed for China Fleet GC’s Sam Church to lift his first title in Andalucia, and he did just that in a dramatic manner. In a week when he celebrated his 16th birthday, Sam kept his nerves and his nose ahead of Sam Lemon from Farnham GC. Jonathan Hewett, the overnight joint leader quickly fell away when his putter let him down all day. Sam Church took a one shot lead after birdieing the treacherous long par-5 third and after exchanging birdies and pars with Lemon over the next 12 holes, Church birdied the 16th to move two ahead with two holes to play. Both parred the short 17th. The final hole has proved a card-wrecker in so many major tournaments at Finca Cortesin in the past, so Church needed a good straight drive but pulled it left into the bunker on the left side of the dogleg fairway. Door was open for Sam Lemon. A magnificent drive split the fairway 50 yards past Church’s. Cornish Sam came out of the bunker but found the greenside bunker with his third. Lemon just missed the green with his second, the ball running into the right hand side bunker and when he failed to get up and down from the sand, Church knew he had two putts for the title. He only took one. A lot of high emotions, kissing and hugging followed as the champion discovered that another Sam, Sammie Giles, also from the West Country had triumphed in the girls’ section. Not only both Sam Church and Sammie Giles are from Cornwall but live in the same town, Saltash, and went to the same primary school (Saltash.net Community School).They grew up, played and practise together and some 1800 miles away from home they lifted the prestigious titles in blazing warm Andalucia sunshine. Sammie Giles’s victory was impressive. She also led from the front and her 78 secured her a back-to-back seven shots victory over her playing partner, St. Ives GC’s Amy Rae who waited all week for an opportunity to overtake Sammie to no avail. The most impressive score of the day, and the week, was a majestic four under par 68 by Yorkshire’s England international Bradley Hudson but being seven shots behind going into the final round, victory was too much to ask but did secure joint second with Sam Lemon. There was unanimous praise for the very high quality of both the Alcaidesa Links Resort courses as well as the heavenly Finca Cortesin. Last Monday’s monsoon only helped to make the courses even better for our youngsters! Shot of the week must go to Boldon GC’s Rhys Thompson who holed from 100 yards for an eagle three on the 8th to draw level with the leaders but in only proved a flash in the pan! The final placing: GIRLS: 230 Sammie Giles 237 Amy Rae 247 Rhiannon Thomas 250 Victoria Wakeley-Jones BOYS: 220 Sam Church 222 Sam Lemon Bradley Hudson 231 Jonathan Hewett Michael Dewsbury James Rooney 236 Michael Downey Gary Foley 237 Rhys Thompson 238 Dean Homewood 240 Fraser Dawson Niall Hutton 241 Jake Clorley 242 Nicholas Booth 244 William Bado Jack Reekie Josh Taylor 246 Rory Stewart 249 Scott Finlay Lewis Clarke 252 Toby Purvis 259 Bradley Barnes
The top British under 16s head for Andalucia in Spain later this month to experience the challenge touring professionals face every week of the year!
The Finals kick off with four tough rounds at Alcaidesa Links Resort and those making the cut head straight for Finca Cortesin, one of the top courses in Europe.
Watch this space for regular scores and updates.
For the second time in the 28 year history of the most prestigious team event in the UK, NHLV from Hampshire led by The Hampshire GC's Steve DeCosimo, won the Sunday Express Team-of-four.
Having won their Regional Final at Lingfield Park GC on a countback from Tilgate Forest GC's TEEBOYZ, they beat the same team in the Finals in Spain, again on a countback.
Third place went to South Yorkshire's Hollinbush all members of Tinsley Park GC.
The winning team were Steve DeCosimo, Hampshire GC, handicap 10, Jim Haynes, Hampshire GC/14, Pete Skidmore, Old Thorne GC/9, and George Robertson from Carnwath GC/13.
5th Andalucia Junior European Open in association with the Daily Express
Final Day Saturday 29th January 2011 @ Finca Cortesin GC
High drama was the order of the day at Finca Cortesin GC in Andalucia, Spain on the final day of this prestigious event.
Poppy Finlay having seen off her closest and playing partner, Sarah Bradshaw, must have been writing her winner’s speech standing on the 18th tee looking comfortable. She drove out of bounds and scored a tear jerking eight. Samantha Giles playing immediately behind her hit a majestic approach shot into the par-5 last hole. She thought she had to sink the 12-footer to win. In fact she had two for the title. She three-putted. Poppy and Sammie, as she would like to be called, headed for the tenth in the first ever play-off in the history of this event. Sammie won the toss and hit the perfect 9-iron into the tenth hole thus puting Poppy under pressure. She missed the green right and bogeyed. Sammie two-putted. The title went to the very popular West Country lass with the biggest smile.
In the boys section Max Orrin, the hot pre-tournament favourite, eventually woke up and mounted a serious challenge for the capture of this title at his third attempt. Having started the final day one stroke behind Abbey GC’s Dean Reece-Davis, he eventually took the outright lead after birdies on the 4th, 5th and 9th holes. Having to take a penalty drop, he hit the very long par-5 11th with a shot carbon copy version of Phil Mickleson’s shot from behind the trees on the 13th at Augusta last April thus saving par. Another birdie followed on the short 12th. Dean almost drove the 13th with a monster tee-shot to halve the deficit but Max immediately responded on the 14th where his second shot almost went in for an eagle. A two shot lead with four holes to go. End of story.
Fred Moghadam the Tournament Director, said “on and off the course our youngsters were a joy to watch; what a credit to the British golf. Entry form for 2011 will be sent to all the Junior Organisers of UK golf clubs on the 1st March.” All scores on the organiser’s website www.golforganiser.com Junior Events pages.
Test Valley team (Peter Price, Paul Baxter, Martin Rudderham & David Green) from Hampshire led by Peter Price won the 27th Sunday Express team-of-4 Championship some ten years after winning this prestigious title under the Spitfire name. They led the field after the Stableford stages by eight points from Teeboyz team (Pete Danton, Kevin Manley, Tony Clifford & Roger Beattie) from Tilgate Forest in Sussex. In the Final, played on the Alcaidesa Links Course, they beat the Sussex team by a comfortable margin of 4 up.
Finishing third was an all Scottish team, Bunkered Dawg's, from Ayrshire beating past champions Sponsors from Lanarkshire into 4th place.
The Costa del Sol Masters, the top pairs event in Europe, was won by the father & son combination of Steve and Michael McGoldrick from Westerwood GC in Scotland, a title they last won in 2006. In the Final they beat the hot favourites Jeff Clewes and Rob Hartley from The Warwickshire GC 3&2.
The 20th Daily Express Matchplay title went to Carl Greenwood at his 10th attempt beating the 1999 champion Franco Martinelli in a tight finish. Last year's runner up Monica Pinfold (Tytherington GC/15) from Lancashire finishing third just ahead of Norfolk's Bertrand Reynolds.
The 10th National Scramble finals was a much closer affair with the title going to Northamptonshire's husband and wife combination of David & Tracy Morris playing off scratch and 13 respectively. In the final they beat the hot favourites John Thurman and Steve Butt 2&1. Last year's runners-up David & Hilary MacKenzie, fromCounty Durham, once again went very close and finished third.
Winners of the Optional Competitions and booking themselves a return trip to next year's Champions Week Finals were Paul & Warwick Binns; David & William McCulloch; Tracy & David Morris and John Chrystie & Kevin Manley.
A most fantastic week of golf was enjoyed by all in glorious and uninterrupted blazing Costa del Sol sunshine. As expected Finca Cortesin GC was the best course of the week although some found it too tough. Alcaidesa Heathland and Alcaidesa Links courses were as popular as ever with the low handicappers preferring the former. Calanova was the new course on the circuit and a return trip is assured. And no championship in ever complete with the openning day at Atalaya Old Course. Bring on 2011!
