OLLIE CHEDHOMME WINS THE HAMPSHIRE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Ollie Chedhomme became the first Guernsey player to win the Hampshire Junior Boys Championship since Peter Wilcox in 1978 with a brilliant victory at Lee on Solent yesterday. The par 69 course offered a great test with fantastic greens and particularly demanding back to back par threes on the back nine. Playing in the last group, Ollie was drawn with home favourites Harvey Denham and Harrison Price, both formidable players with Denham off +4. In the morning round Ollie carded an excellent level par 69 gross which included six birdies and found himself in joint first place after the first round. With two other players a shot back, it was all set up for a fantastic finish and it didn’t disappoint. Ollie got off to a fast start in the afternoon and was two under after three and was looking like he was starting to take charge. However a run of four consecutive bogeys threatened to de-rail his championship. He kept his head though and showed great resilience to fight back. Ollie was trailing Rowlands castle’s James Plater by a shot as they came down the stretch but he hit trouble on the 17th when his ball plugged in a bunker. Ollie hit an excellent tee shot on the same hole which just trickled off the green leaving him a tricky up and down. He was unfortunate to make a bogey and when he stepped on the 18 he was completely unaware of the situation at the top of the leaderboard. He then proceeded to hit a tremendous tee shot leaving him 118 yards into the green from the semi rough. He flighted a superb 50 degree wedge which spun back to seven feet. Although he didn’t know it, the putt was for the championship and he calmly proceeded to slot it in the middle of the cup to much to the delight of the watching Guernsey support. It was the biggest victory of Ollie’s career and fitting that in his last junior event he leaves as a county champion. His 36 hole total of 141 (+3) included ten birdies but it was his temperament that was just as impressive as his brilliant play. He can proudly add his name to the list of past winners that includes Justin Rose and Richard Bland - an outstanding achievement.
Guernsey had eleven players in the championships and our juniors secured four top ten finishes in the main event highlighting the strength in depth of junior golf on the island. Tanner Austin was the next highest Guernsey player in 6th courtesy of a fantastic 70 gross (+1) in the second round which was the lowest score in the field in the afternoon. Just behind him was Rory Mckenna with Conor Mckenna in 9th.
In the u13 championships our youngest players performed brilliantly. Alex Mills shot a superb 81 to win the second gross prize with a great round of golf. Thomas Chamberlain had a great day shooting the third best gross score of 83 resulting in winning the nett prize with a 66. Both boys have been in the Hampshire development squad this season and will have been sure to impress the Hampshire selectors for next season with their outstanding performances. A major junior event would not be complete without Lewis O’Brien showcasing his wonderful talent and he was at it again plotting his way around the course superbly to win runner up nett in his category and finish 8th gross.
It was an incredible championship courtesy of the great team at Hampshire Golf at a wonderful venue. Huge congratulations to Ollie on an outstanding win and to all the Guernsey players. Every single one of them played amazing golf at times and they were an absolute credit to the game on the island. Finally a big thank you to Ray Lowe Sporting Foundation and Appleby for their immense support of junior golf, and to the GGU and Sports Commission.
