Eight boys from the school golf squad recently took part in a 54-hole World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event held at the hospitable Hollinwell Golf Course in Mansfield where they competed against 35 boys and eight girls from seven schools over two days.
While the event itself resulted in some great positive outcomes for the boys, it was perhaps the way the boys worked together and showed great sportsmanship and integrity in the face of some tough challenges, that was most impressive.
The squad left school at 7.45am Sunday for tee times from 11.00am. A late change of venue (Rye withdrew three weeks before the event with Hollinwell stepping in at the last minute), meant that the boys were unable to play any practice rounds before the competition.
Despite having never played on the course before, many of the boys played strongly in the first round; notably, Fin Rennie 74(+2), William Mowe 75(+3), Jack Peters and Freddie Tucker 76(+4).
With 36 holes to be played on the Monday, an early start saw the boys back at the golf club for 6.45am, with the first player, Archie Mathers, teeing off at 07.24am. Having struggled on the Sunday, Archie turned his tournament around on day two with rounds of 75 and 72. Rounds of 74 for both Jack and Freddie, and 70 (-2) for Fin positioned the team 2nd overall in the team event, five shots adrift of Reed’s, and Fin in 2nd individually, just one shot adrift.
Playing in the penultimate group, Fin went toe-to-toe, shot-for-shot, all day with one of the leading U18 England Golf talents from Rossall School. Not knowing the scores in the final group, Fin was bogey-free and -3 for his final round through 17 holes. Circumstances conspired against him from that moment, finding a horrible lie from a drive which missed the fairway by one yard, and a 3-putt from the back of the green. Fin signed his card for a closing 71 (-1) and waited for the final group to finish as the clubhouse leader. A tricky 10 ft putt was holed for what turned out to be a share of the lead, but due to a lower final round score the title belonged to the boy from Reed’s.
More pleasing than any performances on the course, were the school’s core values in full view as Fin waited for his adversary to sign his card and was then the first to congratulate his victor on his success. Not only this, but all the boys rallied around Fin to console him initially and then lift his spirits before the journey home to Bedford.
Away from the very top of leaderboard, there were positive outcomes for all the boys; Ed Wade closed with rounds of 74 and 73 and finished 10th overall, Will Wilkins with 78 and 76, and Shaun Thomas with a 79 – all three will receive a cut to their handicaps.
Individually, we had four boys finishing in the top 10. As a team, our A team of Fin, Jack, Freddie and Archie were placed 2nd, and our B team of Ed, Shaun, Will Mowe & Will Wilkins placed 6th.
We now look forward to the HMC Tour Championships to be held at the JCB Golf and Country Club in late April.
