Bedfordshire County Golf
Bedfordshire Schools Scratch Championship
Bedfordshire Schools Golf held their County Scratch Championships at Leighton Buzzard GC with a closely fought contest for the U/18 Boys title as crucial shots were dropped over the closing 3 holes that proved to be a challenge for most players. Last year’s U/16 Champion, Jack Manley (Sharnbrook Upper and Beds & County GC) emerged the Schools Champion with a gross 73, to win the Johnson Salver by a single shot from Ed Stephenson (Vandyke Upper and Leighton Buzzard GC) on 74, having dropped 4 shots on the closing 3 holes. Jack’s birdie 3 and par 4 on the 17th and 18th proving to be the difference after Ed had earlier made 3 birdies around the turn on 9, 12 and 13. George Garnham (Wootton Upper and Beds & County GC) finished 3rd where his birdie on 15 was annulled by a double on 16 to end on 75.
In the U/16 Championship 13 year old Ben Loveard (Cardinal Newman & Woburn GC/Beadlow Manor GC) won the Charlie O’Brien Cup with an impressive 75, 2 shots ahead of the Champion two years ago, Tom Hicks (Harlington Upper and Woburn Sands & Aspley Guise GC) on 77 with debutant Alex Robins (Bedford School and Aylesbury Vale GC) 3rd on 79.
In the Team Championship Vandyke Upper won the Cyril Rose Shield to take the title for the 7th time since 1979, which makes them the most successful school ahead of Bedford School and Manshead Upper (both 5x), Bedford Modern (4x). Ed Stephenson (74) , Andreas Valentine (78) and Brandon Waddington (80) (all Leighton Buzzard GC) won with a team score of 152 ahead of Wootton Upper: George Garnham (75) (Beds & County GC), Zach Peters (80)(Bedfordshire GC) and Aidan Abbott (81)(The Millbrook GC) on 155.
Brandon Waddington (Vandyke Upper and Leighton Buzzard GC) won the Boys Best Nett prize on the day with a nett 68.
Jack Manley, Ed Stephenson and George Garnham have been selected for the NASUWT SE Schools Championship to be held next May HT at Bury St Edmunds GC, Suffolk, with the 3 remaining places being completed in the final trial in early May. Ben Loveard goes forward to represent the County at the NASUWT National U/16 Championship at Thetford GC in July as County Champion, others may well join him after a ballot has been completed. Vandyke will be nominated to enter the NASUWT National Team Championship in July at Woodhall Spa.
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