Harry Cox of Welwyn Garden City once again proved to be the cream of the crop, when he romped to victory at Sandy Lodge yesterday (Mon 29 July) at the County Boys Championship. Harry won this event in 2022 at East Herts and again last year at The Hertfordshire and became the first three time winner in history for this event with his impressive win.
This was first time the Boys Championship event has been held at Sandy Lodge since 1998, some 26 years ago. The course was presented excellently for the event and provided a fair but exacting challenge for the competitors, particuarly with long rough providing a severe penalty for wild driving.
The event was played in bright sunshine, very warm conditons and a light breeze throughout. All in all good conditions for scoring.
The competition is 36 holes medal strokeplay played off scratch, with a age related catagory of the best U16 scores for the Malcolm Reid Trophy and the Team Championship, with best 2 from 3 lowest handicap players from the same club utilised.
After the morning round, Harry led by 3 shots after a round of 67 (-4) from nearest rivals playing partner on the day Finlay Rennie of Centurion and Harrison Preston of Hanbury Manor, both on 70(-1). In the U16 category Cobi Arazi of Dyrham Park led on 71 (level).
In the afternoon round Harry would stretch his lead further and add a pm round of 66 (-5) for a 36 hole total of 133 for the day (-9), very impressive stuff! Harry would win by 6 clear shots from Harrison in 2nd place with an excellent perfomance of his own on 139 (-3) for the day, an afternoon 69 to add to his morning 70. In 3rd place an afternoon 68 (-3) by Nat Warren of Porters Park edged out his playing partner Finlay Rennie, after both had tied on 141 (-1) for the day.
In the Malcolm Reid Trophy for the best U16 Scores, halfway leader Cobi faded in the afternoon with a 79, which allowed Ben Sessions of Bishops Stortford to claim the title with an afternoon 71 for a total of 144 for the day, +2. Henry Dowsett of East Herts was the runner up on 148 +6.
In the Team Championship, played for the Team Flag, unsurprisingly Welwyn Garden City came out on top with a terrific team total of 275 -9 for the day, with Harry joined by Louie Bloxham and Patrick Donovan, with all three players having at least one counting score towards the team total. Due to Louie leaving early the team picture below includes club mate Brandon Macciochi as a stand in for Louie!!
Harry will now proceed to represent Hertfordshire at the Boys Champion of Champions event at Woodhall Spa in September, played the day prior to the Mens Champion of Champions event, in which Harry will likely take part due to his main County Championship win at his home club last month.
Our thanks to Sandy Lodge for hosting and we look forward to returning again with another event soon.
