The Astbury in Shropshire once again hosted the Faldo Junior Tour Midlands Championship, in the first of three events in England during August. Located amongst the rolling hills above the idyllic town of Bridgnorth, The Astbury offers a true test of golf as the challenging parkland layout with immaculate putting surfaces featured some very tricky pin positions. Round 1 & Round 2 were made even more difficult as Storm Floris battered the golf course with rain and strong winds, making scoring very difficult for the field of 82 players.
Despite the very tricky conditions during Round 2, Romford GC’s Dylan Hussey posted a fantastic 65 to gain a place in the final group on Wednesday. Hussey managed a bogey-free 7 under par to better his first round score by 13 strokes. During Round 3, fellow Romford GC member Edward Linley would match Hussey’s 65 to propel himself into a tie for 2nd place overall and within the Boys 21 & Under Category with South Staffordshire GC’s, Ronnie Groves. Linley and Groves would finish with a 213 total, three shots behind Overall Winner and Boys 21 & Under Winner Fredrik Gannon. Gannon had overcome poor conditions during Round 1 & 2 with a pair of 73’s and then made seven birdies and an eagle in the final round to shoot a fantastic 66. The Cuddington GC member was very pleased with his week’s work as he looks to gain valuable WAGR points and improve on his current 3778th position.
In the Boys 16 & Under Division, there was some great final hole drama, playing together, Alexander Mills (Royal Guernsey GC) and Theo McCormick (Moortown GC) exchanged birdies on the final hole to force a play off to decide who would book their place on the plane to the United Arab Emirates as the 16 & Under Boys Winner. Having already chipped in on the 18th earlier Mills couldn’t manage to hole out again, and Theo McCormick won the playoff with a par, having hit his tee shot to around 10 feet on The Astbury’s signature hole in front of a large crowd who had now gathered in front of the Astbury Hall.
Within the Girls categories, Isabelle Badger also took a three-shot victory in the 21 & Under Category with a final round of 72, even par, to match her first round score. Badger had 4 birdies in her final round to see off her closest challenger and former England Girls West Midlands Regional Squad player and friend, Izzy Hurrion. Hurrion finished with rounds of 74,74 and 77 to finish four shot ahead of Lili-Rose Hunt. In the Girls 16 & Under category, Walton Heath GC’s Katie Ainsworth booked her place at the Europe Grand Final in Al Ain with a four-shot victory over Jeeva Ashok from Leeds Golf Centre who finished in second with Katie’s sister Chloe Ainsworth finishing in third place.
The Faldo Junior Tour moves down into South England next week as a field of 105 players visit John O’Gaunt Golf Club in Bedfordshire. The event will take place over the Carthagena and John O’Gaunt Courses who earlier in the year hosted one of the Faldo Futures Regional Finals.
