42 competitors took part last Sunday (16th June) at our annual Mens Under 35s Championship, taking place this year at Porters Park GC as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations as a club.
The event is an age related championship from those at least 18 years old at the start of the calendar year, but less than 35 years old as of the day of the event. This event replaced the Colts Championship in our schedule.
The competition is played over 36 holes medal strokeplay with the winner being the player with the lowest returned gross score for the day. The event was played from the back blue tees providing the competitors with one of the sternest tests in the county against the stern par of 70.
Thankfully, and finally some may say, the weather on the day for the event was excellent, bathed in sunshine all day, with warm temperatures and light winds.
Laurie Owen was fresh off his victory last month at the King George V tournament, Porters Park’s annual mens scratch open event, where in the am morning round Laurie shot an incredible score of 61 (-9), which would have been a new amateur course record was it not for the fact that preferred lies were in operation. Laurie comfortably won the event with a steady pm afternoon round and started the day in this event as the pre-tournament favourite.
Laurie would take a considerable lead into the pm afternoon round after a round of 69 -1 in the morning to lead by 2 from Rio Saigal of Moor Park on 71 +1 and by another 3 shots from the chasing pack on 74 +4.
Laurie would add an afternoon 71 +1 for an overall total of 140, level for the day, to win by 3 shots from the aforentioned Rio and Owen Clouting of Welwyn Garden City, who stormed through the field with an excellent round of 69 -1 in the afternoon, to pip the runners up spot and push Rio into 3rd place. Rio did however have the comfort of being the best placed U25 player and therefore winning entry into the England Golf U25 Championship, taking place at Woburn next month.
Congratulations to Laurie on his well deserved victory and we wish Porters Park GC all the very best for the rest of their 125th celebrations.
Next years Mens Under 35s Championship will be held at Ashridge GC on Sunday 22nd June 2025.
Results
