A cloudy day with a forecast of rain greeted our 23 junior golfers who competed in the Junior Championship and R&B Championship tournaments – the most prestigious events in our competition calendar.
In the 36-hole Junior Championship, the morning round on the Forest course proved to be very challenging with just 1 golfer playing below his handicap. In the ‘Scratch’ category, Tommy Brammer led the way after the first round with a gross 77. In the ‘Handicap’ category, Sebastian Wells headed the field with a net 68.
After a bite to eat and a drink the afternoon round on the Manor was to prove even more difficult with prolonged spells of rain and a moderate breeze for the players to overcome. Midway through the afternoon, with heavy rain falling our youngest junior golfers teed off in the R&B Championship for their 9-hole competition. With parents/supporters pulling trolleys or carrying golf bags, the conditions really were unpleasant, but to their credit the young boys and girls were brilliant and played some very good golf as well, demonstrating both skill and perseverance. As the final few holes of each competition were being played and scorecards were being checked and signed it was clear that one or two of the categories were being very closely contested, which is great for the future of junior golf at Bramshaw.
In the R&B Championship, Jack Elkins (18pts) managed to edge out our youngest competitor at just 7 years of age, Isla Smallpiece (17pts) to take the trophy. Jack is a role model for young golfers, already in the Hampshire Boys Team and showed great spirit after opening with a triple bogey on the first hole.
In the Junior Championship itself, the Handicap category was also very close with 4 players within 2 shots of each other after 36 holes of golf. With a total of 144 William Dibden, playing in his first 36-hole tournament took the Handicap Champion title from runner-up, Jake Barney (145). The Scratch Championship competition saw Billy Lightfoot defend his title with a great round of 73 to pull away from his closest rival, Danny Coombs.
Championship Day is always a special day in the Bramshaw calendar and thanks must go to Anne and Mike Woodman, who worked tirelessly throughout the day, ball-spotting, supporting, measuring ‘Nearest the Pins’ and to the bar staff, Kerry and Michael, who kept the clubhouse open a little longer for our very damp golfers and parents to have refreshments after the event. In true Covid compliance fashion, the presentation was held in the ‘open’, fortunately with ‘less heavy’ rain falling!
Pictured below are the major winners from the days’ competitions, receiving their trophy from 2021 Junior Captain, Elliot Thomas.
