Isle of Man Golf’s Junior Golf Championships, sponsored by award-winning homebuilder Dandara, were held on Sunday at Mount Murray Golf Club, in sunny conditions with a bit of a breeze.
This competition is split into five categories with the Boys competing in the Under 18s, U16s and U14s and the Girls in U18s and U14s. There were also 9 and 6 Hole Competitions for those who are coming up through the junior ranks but not quite ready to compete in the championships.
The Boys’ U18s competition for the Wyon Smith Trophy was played over 36 holes. After the 1st round Rowany’s Jack Gilbert topped the leader board with a round of 74 Gross, ahead of Douglas’s Tommy Fenlon on 75 Gross. That was all to change at the end of the 2nd round, however. Jack recorded a 2nd round of 76, making his total 150 for the two rounds, but that wasn’t enough to stop Tommy claiming 1st place after shooting a round of 72, taking his total to for the two rounds to 147 to win.
In the U16s competition for the Trustum Cup, also played over 36 holes, local knowledge of the course shone through on the day, with the top places going to home players. Freddie Dancox with rounds of 88/95 – 183 Gross had to settle for 2nd place behind Tom Cain, who took the honours with rounds of 87/93 – 180. Best Nett went to Sam Crawford, also from Mount Murray, with rounds of 72/75 – 147.
There was another close game in the U14 competition for the Will Kirkpatrick Trophy, played over 18 holes. Mount Murray’s Freddie Dancox, with an 88 Gross, just missed out on the win to Liam Kniveton, from Peel, who retained the trophy for another year with a round of 87 Gross. Best Nett again went to Sam Crawford with a 72.
The Girls’ U14s and U18s competitions were played over 18 holes and it was a local player, Emma Noon, who took the honours in the U14s, with a round of 96 Gross. She had to settle for 2nd place in the U18s behind Peel’s Kayleigh Dawson, fresh from representing the Isle of Man in the NatWest Island Games in Gotland, Sweden, who took the win with a round of 81 Gross. Emma had the consolation of Best Nett for the U18s with a 72 Nett.
In the 9 Holes Competition Dean Bettridge, from Peel, took the honours with a fantastic score of 25 points from Ellis Dunn, also from Peel, who scored 18 points. A handicap reduction is coming Dean’s way.
And in the 6 Hole Competition local boy Callum Hunter just pipped Douglas’s Emily Dooley on the last hole to take the victory. Both of these young players started this year in the Flag Competition, and with both achieving wins in this event have earned their junior handicap therefore enabling them to progress through to the ranks of the Dandara Junior Order of Merit competitions.
Isle of Man Golf President Dee Lewis said: ‘Massive congratulations to everyone who played at the Junior Championships; we were treated to some marvellous golf throughout the field and the standards among our young players are extremely impressive.
‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to Dandara for its continued support of junior golf in the Isle of Man through its ongoing commitment not only to the Junior Championship but also to the Order of Merit which is played throughout the year.’
The next round of the Dandara Junior Order of Merit is on Sunday 30th July at Douglas Golf Club. Entries can be made through club junior organisers and information will be displayed at all clubs.
For more information visit www.isleofmangolf.im or the Golf Isle of Man page on Facebook.
Photo - Players in the 6 and 9 Hole Competitions.
