Since launching Golfing Herald just over 7 months ago, my virtual pen has travelled across the screen of my laptop to write numerous articles but this is the first occasion an article has been compiled and published following a very kind invite/suggestion. Let me explain…
John Illingworth is the secretary of the East Riding Union of Golf Clubs (ERUGC) and back in May, I had the pleasure of being drawn in the same group as John in the ERUGC Seniors Championship played at Hessle Golf Club. Despite my golf being worse than usual (which trust me is really bad!!), we had a great morning playing and talking golf.
Since then we have kept in touch via Twitter and it was through this social media platform that I accepted John’s invite to attend the 2019 ERUGC Junior Championship at Ganstead Park Golf Club on 1st August 2019 (Yorkshire Day)…with a self-imposed challenge to try and produce an article worthy of this prestigious event.
So let’s start by providing some background to the history and ethos of the ERUGC and to this year’s hosts Ganstead Park Golf Club.
History of the Union
Golfing Herald has a global following so for the benefit of all the East Riding of Yorkshire, more commonly known as East Riding is an area in the North of England as highlighted in the map below.
In May 1947, representatives from several East Riding Golf Clubs convened at Hull Golf Club and agreed to form the ERUGC. The original terms of reference of the Union included:
- To assist in promoting golf in the district and maintain the ancient traditions of the game.
- To organise and promote competitive golf.
- To encourage the development of promising players.
The Union has continued to grow over the 70+ years since it’s formation and today organises a number of championships including the 36-hole Junior Championship.
24 Golf Clubs are now affiliated to the Union, with the most famous probably being Ganton Golf Club whose rich history includes hosting the 1949 Ryder Cup, the 2003 Walker Cup and the Amateur Championship on 3 occasions.
Above all, the ethos of the ERUGC is to continually uphold the best traditions of the great game that is golf.
Ganstead Park Golf Club
Ganstead Park Golf Club is located a few miles to the east of the historic port city of Kingston Upon Hull. Opened in 1976 as a 9-hole golf course, additional land was purchased in the mid-1980s to establish a challenging 18-hole Par 72 parkland course, measuring 6775 yards from the white tees.
The configuration of the fairways is clearly defined by mature trees, grass mounds and lakes. The size and contours of the greens provide fair but interesting challenges to golfers of all abilities.
The Clubhouse provides a fantastic vantage point, in particular for the par 5 closing hole. The fairway unfolds straight towards the clubhouse and the green is almost within touching distance.
The future of the golf club was recently secured when the members voted overwhelmingly to take over the club after the previous owners put the club up for sale.
Dave Smee, the Head PGA Profesional since 2014, has actually been involved with the club since the day it opened when he was a junior member!! Dave prides himself on ensuring that members and visitors alike have an enjoyable experience and a first-class service.
For further information on Ganstead Park Golf Club then please visit their website https://www.gansteadpark.co.uk/
Past Winners
The ERUGC Junior Championship was first contested in 1948. Below are just three of the past winners (with a very selective abridged bio for each) from a very impressive roll of honour over the past 70 years:
1977 Jonathan Plaxton ~ As a player, Jonathan won the Yorkshire Amateur Championship in 1983 and proudly represented England at boys, youth and full international level. He has also held several senior golf administrator roles including chairman of selectors for the GB&I Walker Cup Team and today he is the Honorary Secretary of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs.
1994 & 1995 Richard Finch ~ Richard enjoyed an illustrious amateur career winning the Spanish Open (2000) the English Amateur (2002) and the St Andrews Links Trophy (2003). As a professional, he has been a member of the European Tour since 2005, winning the New Zealand Open (2007) and the Irish Open (2008).
2001 Steven Uzzell ~ In 2008 Steven won the prestigious English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy and was an England International. A professional since 2010, he has predominantly played on the PGA EuroPro Tour.
Defending Champion
Jack Maxey was looking to secure a hat trick of victories in the 36-hole ERUGC Junior Championship. In 2017 he defeated Tom Duck in a playoff and in 2018 he successfully defended the title in dominant fashion by a margin of 8 shots, with Tom Duck again having to settle for the runner up spot.
Amongst his other achievements he won the 2018 South England Boys Open and this season he has finished 21st in the Scottish Boys Championship and 28th in the English Boys Championship (Carris Trophy). Jack is the current Yorkshire U18 Team Captain and plays off a handicap of +1 at Hornsea Golf Club, the recently crowned Yorkshire County Team Champions.
Challengers
Tom Duck of Ganton Golf Club has been a model of consistency with finishes of 3rd, 2nd and 2nd over the past 3 years so another fascinating contest in store with his nemesis Jack Maxey.
Other fancied contenders for the Challenge Trophy included George Davies (Scarborough North Cliff), Tommy Risker (Scarborough South Cliff) and Jude Tarbotton (Hull).
Aligned to one of the objectives of the founding members, the ERUGC Championship provides an opportunity for all junior players with an official handicap to be in contention throughout the day as in addition to the best gross Challenge Trophy, a Rose Bowl is (now) awarded to the junior golfer with the best nett aggregate over 36 holes.
First Round
With the low handicap players drawn in the final groups, the early starters were very much focused on the nett competition.
Tom Jacobs from the host club, playing in the first group posted 88-14-74 but his early lead did not last long when Luke Lamplough (Scarborough North Cliff) returned an impressive 89-18-71 (one under par).
The first player to break 80 was Cooper Beck (Cottingham Parks). Playing off a handicap of 11, he shot a very impressive 79-11-68, dropping only 2 shots on the back 9. Cooper also held the lead in the gross competition for some time until George Clark (Hull), playing in the antepenultimate group shot 78, out in 40 and back in 38.
The final group of defending champion Jack Maxey (Hornsea), Tom Duck (Ganton) and George Davies (Scarborough North Cliff) drew the largest following and they did not disappoint.
Jack bogeyed the 9th to be out in 37. George dropped shots at the 7th and the 9th to be out in 38 whilst Tom bogeyed the 7th and birdied the 8th to be out in 36 (level par).
All changed on the back 9 with Tom having a double bogey on the par 5 13th to return a 76. Despite a birdie on the 17th, George had 4 bogeys on the back 9 to return a 77. Despite dropping further shots on the 10th and 12th, Jack birdied the 11th and 13th and then spectacularly eagled the par 5 17th (Driver followed by a 5 iron to 4 feet!!) to take the lead with a one-under-par 71.
At the end of the first round the leaders in the respective Gross and Nett competitions as follows:
Gross
- Jack Maxey 71
- Tom Duck 76
- George Davies 77
Nett
- Cooper Beck 68
- Luke Lamplough 71
All to play for…
Second Round
The narrative for the second round has been captured in a very much ‘unedited staccato style’ as I attempted to react to the afternoon events as they unfolded…so apologies in advance!!
Building upon his morning first-round score, Tom Jacobs returned an excellent 86-14-72 in the afternoon to set the early clubhouse lead in the nett competition with an aggregate nett score of 146.
In the second group, Alfred Anderson (Hornsea) shot a much-improved 89-18-71 to leave him on 150 in the nett competition. In the next group, Ewan McKenzie (Cottingham Parks) replicated his first-round score of 93-20-73 to join Tom Jacobs in the clubhouse lead on an overall nett score of 146.
Will Borman (Hull) shot a fantastic second round of 83-15-68 but he had too much ground to make up after a disappointing first round.
A new leader in the nett competition!! Luke Townhill has just returned 85-12-73 to complement his morning round of 84-12-72 to post an overall nett total of 145.
That lead did not last long!! In the next group, Cooper Beck has just finished with another excellent 79-11-68 to establish a clear lead with a fantastic aggregate nett total of 136.
Some great scoring from the next group. Luke Thornton shot 77 for an overall gross total of 156 and Harry Anderson shot 74 for an overall gross total of 154, the new leader in the clubhouse for the Championship.
Kye Steventon (Brough) has just posted the best nett score of the day with a stunning 72-5-67 but unfortunately, he dropped too many shots in the first round to be in the prizes.
Hold the front page!! The final group have just finished…Jack Maxey has just shot a (best of the day) 2 under par 70 to finish on 141, Tom Duck 75 to finish on 151 and George Davies with another 77 to finish on 154. Wow…yet another fantastic performance from Hornsea’s Jack Maxey.
A great day’s golf…congratulations to Jack Maxey on winning the ERUGC Championship for the 3rd year in succession and to Cooper Beck on winning the best nett competition.
At the end of a fantastic Championship, the ERUGC President Chris Clarkson presented the prizes to the Top 3 in the Championship and the Top 2 in the Nett Competition…respective podium positions as follows:
Gross
- Jack Maxey 71 + 70 = 141
- Tom Duck 76 + 75 = 151
- Harry Anderson 80 + 74 = 154
Nett
- Cooper Beck 68 + 68 = 136
- Luke Thornton 72 + 70 = 142
The Nineteenth
I am so pleased I accepted the ‘invite’ from John Illingworth to attend the 2019 ERUGC Junior Championship….just a great day and experience…thanks.
Ganstead Park golf course was presented in superb condition and the weather gods behaved themselves all day!!
The ERUGC officials ensured that all aspects of the day, from the official starter through to the scrutinisation of the submitted scorecards and everything in between, ran absolutely seamlessly.
Finally, but most importantly, all of the junior golfers played in the true spirit of the game and based on the evidence of today the future is very bright for the East Riding Union.
For further information on the ERUGC then please visit their website https://www.erugc.co.uk/
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