The next generation of elite golfers delivered an impressive showcase of talent this week as the Faldo Junior Tour made its latest stop at the renowned Conwy Golf Club. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the North Wales coastline, the championship links provided an unforgettable stage for young competitors from across the UK and Europe. A field of 50 talented golfers took on the championship links at Conwy and produced some excellent golf across the 2 days of competition with 36 holes played on Monday and the final 18 holes played on Tuesday. A dry Welsh Summer meant the golf course was particularly firm and fiery as players had to adapt their landing points for their approaches as well as shots around the greens.
Two players mastered this very impressively, with Hayden Norman recording an albatross on day one. Hayden holed his second shot on the par 5, 12th hole from 207 yards to record the biggest of golfing birds. Playing into the wind Hayden’s 4 iron shot found the bottom of the cup. On day two, William Ainsworth holed a 7 iron from 174 yards on the tricky 13th hole for the second hole in one in as many weeks on the Faldo Junior Tour.
Having hosted the R&A Girls Amateur Championship last year and the Curtis Cup in 2021 Conwy has strong affinity with girls golf. Within this event the quality of girls golf was of a very high standard. Conwy member and Welsh International, Rosie Parsley won the Girls 16 & Under division with scores of 81, 75, 73 on home turf. Walton Windmills, Ava Allenby was back in second place with a 250 total. Fellow Welsh International Sofia Benitez carded a final round 75 to finish in second place in the Girls 21 & Under category. A closing birdie on the 54th hole left the Faldo Series Media Ambassador with a positive finish to the week but was a long way adrift of the Girls 21 & Under Winner. Scottish International Sofia McGhie from Royal Birkdale shot an impressive final round of 2 under par, 72 to take Girls 21 & Under division as well as the overall Girls title to claim her first WAGR. McGhie had a run of 3 birdies in 4 holes from the 11th to see off Parsley and Benitez before flying back to Florida to resume her second year at Nova Southeastern University.
Within the Boys divisions, Thurlstone’s, George Inch took the Boys 21 & Under division and was the Overall Champion thanks to three fantastic rounds of 70, 71 & 72. Inch lead from the front to gain his first WAGR and saw off tough competition from a strong field of boys. Welshman, Joe Jones, pushed Inch hard until a closing double bogey on the 54th hole put pay to his changes. Despite starting the round with a double bogey Jones produced 7 birdies in the final round to put Inch under real pressure. Having already booked his place in the European Grand Final in November Jones played magnificently but Inch held off the Welshman with 5 of his own birdies in the final round to set up a thrilling finish.
In the Boys 16 & Under division, Louis Rickett from Oswestry was once again victorious following up his wins at Brocket Hall and Macdonald Portal. Rickett had rounds of 74, 72 and 75 to beat Jack Thorpe (Woodburn Park) and Shane Clayton (Delamere Forest) by one shot. With Rickett’s place in the European Grand Final already secured Thorpe and Clayton had a play off on the 18th hole to decide who would join Louis on the plane to Dubai. With a par 4 on the 1st extra hole Jack Thorpe made it through as the rest of the field looked on from the clubhouse balcony.
Conwy once again produced a fantastic championship on its renowned championship links with 4 outstanding winners crowned. Next week the Faldo Junior Tour visits Scotland and the Dalmahoy Hotel. Not before a quick visit to Mad Swans in the South Downs for our first ever Faldo Junior Tour (14 & Under) event where our younger juniors will take on the unique challenge of the 12 hole venue at Mad Swans for this 36 hole event.
