Success for Norfolk junior teams
Norfolk’s Under 18 golfers have made it through to the South East Group Final on September 20 after a battling performance at Bungay & Waveney Golf Club.
Coach Ryan Pudney’s squad ended up in top spot at the end of a three-stage series of triangular matches against Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
An eight-boy Norfolk side needed to beat their Bedfordshire counterparts on the final matchday to give themselves a chance of qualification for the September showdown at Donnington Grove in Berkshire.
Jack Bennett set the tone in the first game producing an excellent ball-striking display to win on the 17th green.
Soon there was another point on the board as Toby Lewin prepared for his appearance in this week’s Scottish Under 16s Open Championship with a fine 3&2 victory.
In the middle order Louis Smith and debutant Jack Johnson also contributed with a win and half-point respectively.
And it was Jake Hurren who delivered the telling triumph, securing a superb 1-up success after a hard-fought encounter.
In the last game Theo Pudney epitomised Norfolk’s battling qualities as he rallied from 2-down to snatch a valuable half.
That left Norfolk with an overall 5-3 winning score-line and meant they emerged victorious from the mini-league.
On the same day, Norfolk lost out 5-3 to Suffolk, but Hurren and Johnson enjoyed thumping victories in their respective head-to-heads and Jake Gunby also posted a point.
Ryan Pudney said: “All the lads that have played over the three matches have done superbly to come out on top. I’m very proud of them.
“I’m excited for the final and what we may be able to achieve there.”
In the triangular Under 18s finale Norfolk will face qualifiers from the home counties and the south.
Another Norfolk boys’ squad to enjoy success last weekend was the Under 14s who took the silverware in the annual Triangular Shield, which was staged at Newton Green Golf Club in Suffolk.
They beat the host county 10-6 on points and ended up halving 8-8 with Cambridgeshire.
Norfolk Under-14s coach Lloyd Jones said: “The boys showed incredible patience and perseverance in difficult breezy and bouncy conditions.
“They were calm, confident and performed well in the pressure of a closely-fought match.”
Meanwhile Norfolk’s two men sides were in Anglian League action against Cambridgeshire.
The 1sts played very strong opposition at Ely City Golf Club and were beaten 11-1 with George Morris recording a singles victory for the visitors.
An inexperienced 2nds side were involved in a much closer match at Swaffham Golf Club and can take a lot of positives from their slender 5.5-6.5 loss.
Photos (care of Norfolk County Golf Union)
