KING'S LYNN TAKE JUNIOR CHAMPION TITLE TO NORFOLK
 King’s
Lynn became the first Norfolk club to win the English Junior
Champion Club Tournament when they came up on the rails to
steal the title from their Suffolk rivals Stoke by Nayland.
(Picture © Tom Ward)
On a glorious sunny day at Spalding in Lincolnshire, the
King’s Lynn lads, Bradley Harris, Kit Holmes and Luke
Johnson, compiled a 36-hole aggregate of 154 Stableford points,
three ahead of Stoke by Nayland and five clear of overnight
leaders Welwyn Garden City from Hertfordshire.
“I’m very proud of my team,” said Chris
Johnson, King’s Lynn’s junior organiser. “I
didn’t think players with low handicaps would win this
event because if you look at the result from the last five
years it’s been the mid and high handicappers that have
come through.
“But when we were only two points behind overnight
I fancied our chances because I was confident of the boys’
abilities.
“I also felt this splendid course suited us with its
raised greens that made chipping and putting tricky.
“This win will be a big boost to the club and keeps
it going in the right direction. We have a strong junior base
as well as a strong girls base and shows how much good work
has been put in.”
Welwyn, who were two points clear overnight on 78, added
another 71 for 149 with Leigh Norcott following up his 43
on day one with 35 off 13 handicap, while Chris Ryan posted
36.
But it was soon clear that it wouldn’t be enough as
the Stoke by Nayland trio, Sam Wardle, Louis Freeman and Charlie
Sargeant, overtook them and set the target at 151.
Wardle repeated his 39 of round one with a gross 77 off nine
handicap, while Freeman added 36 for a fine 75.
That looked to be good enough to give the Suffolk, winners
of the inaugural event in 2002, their second title. But the
fight was far from over.
As one of the last teams out, the Norfolk boys played to
their strengths and it was Holmes who gave a hint of the success
to come with a 38 point return which followed Luke Johnson’s
31. At that stage King’s Lynn were six points off the
target
It also meant Bradley Harris, their last man out in the final
game on the course, needed to score at least 38 points off
seven handicap to see his side to the title.
Reports from the course said he was under par but it wasn’t
until be produced his card with 40 magnificent points from
a gross 74 that King’s Lynn knew they were home and
dry.
“I didn’t have a clue what we needed but I knew
it was going to be close,” said the 15 year old.
In the end it wasn’t that close but the Norfolk boys
could begin to celebrate.
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