Stars of the future show off their skills!
 Following
the three National Skills Challenge qualifying events the
English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association
(ELGA) hosted the 2007 National Final on 29th September at
the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa.
2,000 juniors from golf clubs across the length and breadth
of England took part in the qualifying events with the top
five players from each of four age groups making it through
to the grand final.
Players were tested on ten skills which were set up over
Woodhall Spa’s six acre short game area, normally used
to train the England national teams, and the 20 bay driving
range. The 20 players admirably proved their abilities which
included putting, chipping, pitching and bunker play challenges
before the final scores were calculated.
Richard Flint, Golf Development Manager commented, “The
level of talent seen today is superb. All the players that
took part applied 100% effort and determination. It is really
encouraging to see such great young talent taking part in
this exciting initiative and perhaps we may have even discovered
the next Luke Donald”.
Every one of the youngsters received a prize for reaching
the final and first and second places in each age group received
golf bags and holdalls, which were kindly donated by Level4
Golf.
Before leaving the players received a coaching session with
Woodhall Spa’s Head PGA Professional, Andrew Hare. Following
this, Dean Davis performed a memorable trick shot display.
The National Skills Challenge is in its second year, and
the EGU and ELGA are hopeful that the successes so far will
enable it to continue to grow with more golf clubs signing
up to access the free resources available to support the exciting
initiative.
Skills Challenge National Final Scores
Rookie – 8 years and under
Michael Townshend (Royal Nth Devon) 33 points
Alex Wilson (Rugby) 25 points
Philip Frithz (Ryehill, Oxfordshire) 21 points
Liam Schofield (Drax, Nth Yorkshire) 14 points
Kieran Armstrong (Poulton le Fylde, Cheshire) 14 points
Rookie – 9 to 11 years
Andrew Coates (Drax, Nth Yorkshire) 31 points
Kiaran Tanton (Royal Nth Devon) 22 points
Daniel Hunter (Drax, Nth Yorkshire) 20 points
Andrew Burns (St Thomas’s Priory, Staffordshire) 16
points
Max Ryan (Drax, Nth Yorkshire) 14 points
Tour – 12 to 14 years
Jimmy Mullen (Royal Nth Devon) 49 points
Oliver Tanton (Royal Nth Devon) 46 points
Michael Jones (Royal Nth Devon) 38 points
Robert Banks (Drax, Nth Yorkshire) 28 points
Tour – 15 to 17 years
James Holt (Yelverton, Devon) 48 points
Ross Earnshaw (Easingwold, Nth Yorkshire) 44 points
Joe Phillips (St Thomas’s Priory, Staffordshire) 36
points
Michael Norris (Lincoln) 36 points
Dean Drayton(Drax, Nth Yorkshire) 25 points
The National Skills Challenge is an initiative jointly provided
by the EGU and ELGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole
Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England
Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
|
