The Faldo Junior Tour returned in style to the prestigious Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, hosting a thrilling 54-hole event that tested the nerve and skill of some of the Europe’s brightest junior golfers. Played from April 14–16, the tournament attracted a strong 182 player field with valuable WAGR points on the line in this early season event. Whilst the boys event was played on the woodland masterpiece, the Palmerston Course, the girls event was played on the Melbourne Course, renowned as one of the most beautiful courses in England.
Conditions throughout the week gradually got more difficult as players had deal with heavy rain on day two and strong winds on day three. Day one saw some outstanding scoring with Bishops Stortford’s, Ben Sessions getting off to a flyer with a magnificent 63, 10 under par, which included no less than 11 birdies. Clearly inspired by Justin Rose’s back nine at Augusta National the previous evening. Sessions, like Rose would also have to eventually settle for a second place finish. Having followed up day one with a second round 71 a final round of 79 would see Sessions miss out by a shot with a 54 hole total of 212 for a 7 under par total. Overall Boys Winner and 21 & Under Boys Winner was Henry Linley from Romford Golf Club. Linley finished on 8 under par with rounds of 66, 71 and 74 for a 211 aggregate and finished in style with a closing birdie to close out the victory and gain a World Amateur Golf Ranking for the first time. Notably in the same division Toby Peters finished in third place with his highlight coming on day two, signing for a 5 under 68, helped by a hole in one on the 170 yard 5th hole on the Palmerston Course.
On The Melbourne Course it was 16 year old Lily Frost who took the Overall Girls title as well as the 16 & Under Girls division with rounds of 77, 71 & 84 for a 232 aggregate of 13 over par. Also from Essex, like Boys Winner Linley, Chelmsford Golf Club’s Frost finished round two in style and was the only girl all week to record an under par score thanks to a birdie, eagle finish around the Melbourne Course. Frost pipped Charlotte Gosling-Evans and Maisie Halstead by a shot with Gosling-Evans finishing in second place in the Girls 16 & Under division, whilst Maisie Halstead won the 21 & Under division to join Frost and Linley on the plane to Dubai for the 29th Faldo Junior Tour European Grand Final in Al Ain in November. Halstead had a four shot victory in the Girls 21 & Under division over Baylie Pyke & Taylor Hodgson who book finished with a total of 237 for 18 over par.
The final divisional winner, joining Linley, Frost and Halstead at the European Grand Final was Haiden Matos of Dartford Golf Club. Haiden carded three under par rounds of 72, 69 and 72 for a 6 under par total to finish third overall on the Boys leaderboard and to win by 8 shots in the Boys 16 & Under division with Stonham Golf Club’s Frederick Gill finishing in second place.
The high level of play across all age categories highlighted the growing depth of talent in the junior game. During the week there were 40 rounds under par from the field which helped showcase the level of performance. This event proves to be the largest event on the Faldo Junior tour calendar but also attracts the highest quality of player, mainly from the UK but with also a few players from Continental Europe.
As the Faldo Junior Tour progresses toward its European Grand Final in the UAE, events like this continue to serve as critical stepping stones for players on their path to elite amateur and professional golf. The next event on the European schedule is in Czechia in June, whilst in the UK the Faldo Junior Tour will visit Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club in Scotland.
For more results and upcoming event info, visit faldoseries.com.
Pictured below (left to right): Maisie Halstead, Lily Frost, Henry Linley, Haiden Matos
