The County 2025 Season kicked off with the rearranged 2024/25 Herts Schools Rosebowl at Mill Green. Having been abandoned last October after torrential rain flooded the greens, leaving them unplayable. This time around the weather played fair and early morning clouds passed away to leave glorious sunshine.
The Herts Rosebowl is our showcase School’s Championship, a scratch event which permits maximum handicaps of 12 for boys and 18 for girls to play in the tournament.
68 students took to the course to compete for 4 individual prizes. Boys and Girls overall Scratch Winners and Boys and Girls U16 Scratch Winners.
Despite the fantastic weather, the consensus was the fast, true greens caught a lot of them out, having spent the winter putting on slow bobbly greens across the county, it took quite an adjustment to find the pace for putts and chips.
The scoring was still excellent and produced four worthy winners, who received their trophies from June Morgan, President of the England Schools Golf Association, who dropped by to watch some of the play.
On the girls’ side, Tala Clarke of Knebworth took the overall title, shooting a 76 to regain the trophy she last won in 2022/23. Runner up was Ixie Akpan, the defending champion just missing out this time with a 78.
The Girls U16 Championship went to Amelie Stewart of Welwyn Garden City, a score of 80 securing her the title, with defending U16 champion Ava Gadsby of East Herts finishing runner up, one stroke back on 81.
The Boys overall winner was an extremely close fought battle. 72 was the popular score, with both Louie Bloxham and Patrick Donovan of Welwyn Garden City, along with Callum McCarthy of Knebworth securing their level par rounds. It went to countback to separate them, with the title going to Patrick Donovan, runner up was Callum McCarthy.
The Boys U16 Champion arguably shot the round of the day. Jack Wilkins of Harpenden Common, still just 12 years of age, shot a fabulous 73 +1 to take the win but was closely followed by a terrific 74 +2 from Rhian Morjaria, just 13 years of age.
The top 6 boys and top 4 girls now progress onto the Schools East Region Championships, Thursday 29th May at Cainhoe Wood in Bedfordshire. Good luck to them and hopefully we will see some through to the National Finals at Woodhall Spa later this year.
CLICK HERE TO SEE HERTS SCHOOLS ROSEBOWL RESULTS AND SCORES.
