15th April, 2023
Last week the Junior Tour started it’s UK season with a trip to one of the Series’ longest standing venues Brocket Hall.
The event took place on the tree lined Palmerston course where the Estate’s ancient woodland of Hornbeam, Scots and Corsican Pine and 500-year-old Oak trees create some of the most spectacular hazards likely to be encountered on a golf course. Teamed with fiendishly placed bunkers and large undulating greens this challenging par 73 was a great test for the week and is rightfully rated as one of the best courses in England.
158 players tee’d it up on the Monday for what would end up to be a week of unpredictable weather on a challenging course. The conditions on day one were perfect; unlike much of the country, Brocket Hall and the Palmerston Course stood tall against the rain and were in brilliant condition given the unprecedented amount of rain in recent weeks. Samuel Epstein from Maylands impressed after round 1 shooting a fantastic -5 and finished the day as clubhouse leader with a his 68. After his round Sam told the team it was an exciting round after getting stung by a bee on the 7th hole and then going on to birdie 3 of the next 4 holes.
Day 2 proved to be the toughest test for the golfers as they looked to battle 35mph gusts of wind ahead of a 60% cut after the round. Wentworth’s Josh Thompson handled the weather the best and returned his card as club house leader with a score of 3 under par 70 to put himself in the final group for day 3 alongside Epstein and Bishops Stortford’s Ben Sessions.
On the third and final round it was Eloise Feely, Maia Hattrell and Jorja Newbold who were battling it out for the Girls overall title and WAGR ranking points. Oakmere Admirals’ Jorja Newbold completed her round 3 over par, winning the Overall and 21 and Under division with a final score of 232 (+13).
Both the Boys divisions were close until the final few holes as James Baxter closed out the 21 + Under division with a 3 under 70 on the final day to take the spoils. However it was Thompson who took the 16 + Under and Overall title as he remained consistent despite challenges and came in with a 74 for a total score of 221 (+2) across the three rounds narrowly beating sessions by a single shot.
After his win, Josh thanked the Brocket Hall team and his playing partners for the week and said ‘It’s nice to win this event as I only recently just got my WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) so this will help push me on in the rankings this summer’.
Many thanks to Michael Longshaw, and the whole team at Brocket Hall for their assistance and warm hospitality, the course provided the perfect setting to test the Junior Tour players.
Congratulations to Josh Thompson, Jorja Newbold, Maia Hattrell and James Baxter who received their Faldo Junior Tour European Grand Final Invitaitons and will compete at Al Ain in November.
