Golf a hit at the Youth Games

Competition Day of the Specsavers Youth Games proved to be keenly fought. 32 children played in the finals kindly hosted by St Pierre Park. The format was Texas Scramble and only 2 shots separated the top 6 teams, The winners were the South East District with 35 strokes leading Vale and St Peter Port by 1 shot. The fair play award for the team adjudged to have shown best course etiquette was awarded to the Western region.

A big thank you goes to the coaches from Royal Guernsey, La Grande Mare and St Pierre Park for giving up their time for free during the coaching program and also the members of SPP who allowed us to use the course at one of the most popular times. We are also appreciative of the members of the Junior Island Squad who helped out during coaching and Competition Day.

Feedback from players and parents was very positive and we look forward to seeing the players on the course again very soon.

Results:
1 South East
2 Vale
3 St. Peter Port
4 St .Sampson's
5 West
6 Castel

Fair play point: West

La Grande Mare and Royal Guernsey achieve SafeGolf accreditation

Both LGM and RGGC have competed the process to gain SafeGolf accreditation. This has been an involved process and well done to all who have been involved.

SafeGolf is a partnership of UK golf bodies committed to promoting a safe and positive
environment for all those participating, working and volunteering in the sport of golf.

SafeGolf consists of members from the golfing bodies across Great Britain & Ireland and has been established to help golf respond to the issue of child protection in sport. Its mission is to safeguard the welfare of children and young people, as well as adults at risk, in the sport of golf. This will be achieved through a unique partnership which has the ability to influence and act as advocate for safeguarding across the golfing landscape, developing a consistent approach towards ensuring that all people have a fun, safe and positive experience when playing golf.

Members of SafeGolf include; England Golf, Wales Golf, Scottish Golf, Confederation of Golf in Ireland, The Professional Golfers’ Association, Ladies European Tour, The Golf Foundation, Golf Club Managers’ Association, the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association and The R&A.

MARLEY ENGRAVING AND ROUSSE TROPHIES – WINS FOR CONOR, GUS, & RORY CLARKE

Nineteen competitors took part in the fourth event in the Ray Lowe Order of Merit Series yesterday. A number of players have started to hit form and the competition was fierce as expected.

In the White Tee Marley Engraving Trophy, Conor Mckenna took the spoils with another vintage display. His round of 77 gross for 39 points included a birdie at the first and nine pars as he was out in 38 and back in 39. Conor’s short game has always been outstanding but he’s been working hard on his approach play this season and it’s clearly starting to pay dividends. Runner up with 37 points was Ollie Parsons. He had a tough time at La Grande Mare the day before but he was striking the ball nicely before the round which obviously gave him confidence. Ollie had a superb back nine coming back in 36 with birdies at the 13th and 16th along with three pars. Noah Davy had another terrific day going under par again and was just edged out on countback.

The Rousse Trophy was hard fought and it was going to take a special round to win. Gus Carre was the player for the occasion with a brilliant round scoring 42 points. Gus had six pars including four on the challenging front nine and he was out in 43. He kept it together on the back nine for an excellent win. Runner up was Thomas Chamberlain with 39 points which included a birdie at the fourth as he was out in 42. His round of 88 gross also included six pars. Josh Neville was third with 38 points just edging out Joel Hoolahan on countback.

In the Blue Tee Competition there were three players. Rory Clarke continued his excellent form scoring 25 points off his 17 handicap to take victory. Runner up was Noah Millar with another strong showing.

Next up we are back at La Grande Mare on the 29th May, entries are open now. There are a number of Juniors Competing in Senior events this week and we wish you all the best of luck.

LA GRANDE MARE MAY DAY COMPETITION - WINS FOR NOAH, JOEL & RORY CLARKE

It was another breezy day on the West Coast yesterday but there was another excellent turnout.

Noah Davy’s superb season continues adding another win to his growing collection in the white tee/28 handicap & under competition. The highlight of his excellent round of 36 points was a brilliant back nine of 40 which included three pars including a 3 at the tricky 16th which was causing most of the field problems. His win takes him to the top of the Ray Lowe Sporting Foundation Order of Merit. Runner up on countback was Daniel Troop who returned to form with 8 pars and birdies at the 14th and 18th where he had a putt for Eagle. Jayden Tucknott was third with 33 points, another solid display after also competing at L’ancresse in the morning.

In the Red Tee Boys/Handicaps 28 and over, Joel Hoolahan produced a wonderful display of golf with 7 pars and a stunning back nine of 37 for 38 points. It was a brilliant performance in challenging conditions. Runner up was Thomas Chamberlain who was also under par with 37 points. He too had seven pars and also came back in 37, a great effort. Third was Alex Mills who maintains his position at the top of the Order of Merit.

In the blue competition Rory Clarke scored 22 points to take his second win of the season and make up a bit of ground on Charlie Czarnecki who was runner up.

Next up is the Marley Engraving & Rousse Trophy at L’ancresse, report and results to follow.

Windy Day down at La Grande Mare

Sunshine and blue skies greeted the competitors at La Grande Mare for the Easter Cup yesterday but in truth the conditions were borderline unplayable with high winds throughout the afternoon. If it was a professional event it would have been called off but our Juniors are made of sterner stuff and the range was full of players practicing stingers and knock down shots in anticipation of the challenge ahead. It was great to see the Island’s leading Junior and current GGU player of the year Ollie Chedhomme out for his first appearance of the season in Junior Competition, although when he saw the conditions he probably wished he’d stayed at home!

It was hard to believe anyone on the day would match par never mind go under par but Conor Mckenna had other ideas. Conor had a quiet 2020 by his exceptional standards but he was never going to be out of the winners circle for long. It’s difficult to overstate just how tough it was out there, but Conor’s round of 73 gross for 38 points was of the very highest quality. It’s why he’s a Hampshire player and one of our very best. He was out in 39 and came back in 34 finishing with six consecutive pars, a stunning effort. Runner up was Ollie Parsons, consistency has always been a key part of his game and he can take a lot of confidence from this round into the rest of the season.

In the red tee competition the winner was Chloe Gaudion with 36 points. Her round was every bit as impressive as Conor’s. Chloe knows the course like the back of her hand but would rarely have competed in conditions like that.

She was out in 39 with a birdie at the 4th and back in 39 for a brilliant 78 gross, an outstanding performance and another big step in her march towards single figures. Runner up was serial contender Alex Mills with 28 points, a great effort on the day.

In the blue tee competition Rory Clarke just edged out Charlie Czarnecki with 14 points for a fantastic win. La Grande Mare is the sternest of challenges for our blue tee players never mind in a howling gale and both players should be proud of their efforts.

Next up we have a double header weekend of Junior Golf with the May Day Competition at La Grande Mare on 8th May followed by Marley Engraving and Rousse Trophy at L’ancresse the next day. Entries are open now.

Article by Andre Austin

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