Yelverton Golf Club

Junior's Section

Club Championships
Sunday 8th August 2010

Despite a number of the Club’s Juniors being absent either playing in National Events, representing the Club or simply doing what Families do at this time of year, i.e. Holiday, a small but select group gathered at the Club to contest this year’s Junior Club Championships.

The leading three ball of Ryan Acres, Dan Rosevear and Josh Reeday whose combined handicap amounted to 8 meant that this year’s Denis Partridge Scratch Cup would be a keenly contested affair and although somewhat overshadowed by his playing partners in terms of physical stature, it was Ryan that emerged the stronger on the day with some excellent golf.

The Competition, which was played from the White Tees over two rounds, saw a keenly contested morning round in which all three returned respectable scores. Ryan led the way with an excellent 1 under par 70, which saw him take the Clubhouse lead by 2 from Dan with Josh’s 76, leaving him still in contention. As a result, Ryan had already done enough to secure the Geoffrey John Centenary Vase, a trophy most generously donated in the Club’s Centenary year by Geoffrey, a PGA Professional and former junior at the Club who learnt his trade under the guidance of former Club Professional, Ernest Hooker.

Ryan’s Net Score of 68 however was not good enough to take the morning lead in the Denis Partridge Handicap Cup, as Kieran Alder’s debut in the Competition was rewarded with an excellent 4 under par score of 67 (90 Gross). Whether or not Kieran could withstand the pressure of the lead seemed unlikely, as a nervous 1st tee shot in the afternoon had followed Ryan’s steady Par on the first, something you might expect from a County Junior.

As the afternoon unfolded, it soon became clear that this experience was to stand him in good stead, as a solid level par round of 71 gave Ryan an overall gross score of 141 and with it the honour of Junior Club Scratch Champion 2010 by an impressive 7 shots from his nearest competitor, Dan Rosevear.

However, Ryan’s impressive net score of 137 (5 under par) was to prove only good enough for second best in the Handicap trophy, as Kieran soon regained his composure with a series of excellent holes helping him to a gross 89, (net 66) thus giving him an overall score of 133 (9 under par) and with it the title of Junior Club Handicap Champion 2010. Kieran’s playing partner, Harry Searle possibly had a part to play in Kieran’s score, as his own afternoon round (Net 68) would have ensured that the boys were encouraging one another to perform well?

At the same time, Division 2 of the Junior Section were engaged in their own contest, which this year would see the winner gain the inaugural win in The Gordon Mott Shield, one of the series of Shields that we have been awarding this Season. It was felt fitting that the shield played in recognition of the tremendous support provided to the section by our Club President, should form part of the Junior’s Club Championship programme and in particular those Juniors that aspire to achieving some of the accolades of their peers, as listed above.

This year’s winner with a score of 36 points was George Davies, who overcame Jamie Collings (31) and James Dawson (30) and George is pictured below with both Ryan Acres and Kieran Alder, who are showing off their respective trophies. Well played everyone.