Green
is crowned king of the greens
CHESHUNT golfer Sam Green won
our inaugural junior open following a sensational
first round that saw him shoot a gross score of
three under par. The 14-year-old, who was playing
off an eight handicap going into the 36-hole tournament,
was in sparkling form in the morning and sunk
seven birdies.
A double bogey on the par four 14th hole proved
only a minor setback and his gross score of 69
- net 61- put him firmly in front going into the
second round.
A disappointing start on the front
nine saw him drop four shots and the gap between
him and second placed Glen Portelli,from Brickendon
Grange Golf Club, began to close. But Sam, whose
dad Rob is the professional at Nazeing, recovered
well and recorded another birdie on his way to
registering a gross round of 75 (net 68). With
a total gross score of 144, Green won the competition
by three shots from Portelli who finished with
177.
Green's strong performances in last Thursday's
championship mean his handicap has dropped to
five.
Sixteen-year-old Reece Mouser, from Wanstead,
was third with a gross score of 148.
Top girl was Phoebe Crpa, aged 16, from Chelmsford,
and winner of the handicap competition was Robert
Wayling from Woolston Manor, with Jessie Waites,
from The Hertfordshire club in Broxbourne, second.
More than 50 juniors aged nine to 18 took part
in the open which was sponsored by Nigel Jones
of Hoddesdon-based EMS Group. Jones donated £3,000
in sponsorship and presented the trophies at the
end of the competition.
Danny Heard, assistant professional coach at Nazeing,
told the Mercury: "It was a great day and
a real success. Sam played really well and to
take three shots off his handicap in one day is
an amazing achievement. "It áwas great to
see so many taking part. The maximum entrants
would be about 90 and next year we hope to get
the numbers close to that amount."
As well as thanking the sponsor, Heard said he
was also grateful to Nazeing Golf Club owners
Kim and James Speller for hosting the open junior
open. |
