The Club at Mill Green welcomed a full field of students from across schools in Hertfordshire for our annual playing of The Schools’ Scratch Rose Bowl.
The weather was cool and breezy, with some steady rain showers. Adding to that, the fairways were still bouncy, so all in all it made for tough scoring and that was reflected in the fact even such a strong field of players, with no boy above an 8.2 handicap, were able to shoot par or better.
Given the conditions, there were still some excellent scores. 75 +3 was a popular score, with Marcus Karim, recently ranked European no.1 in boys U14 category, Niam Patel and Darcy Eaton all returning that score.
However, it was a 74 +2 from Oliver Bannister of Birchwood High and home member at Bishop’s Stortford who would take the Overall Boys’ Prize.
On the Girls’ side, again scoring proved difficult, it ultimately came down to a contest between Amelie Stewart and Alecia Ibekwem, both members of the England Girls Regional Squad. It was Amelie’s score of 82 which ultimately would take the Girls Overall victory.
We also had our Year 10 and below category. On the Boy’s side it came down to the narrowest margins of victory.
Both Darcy Eaton and Niam Patel had recorded 75’s, so it went to countback, both of them had fantastic back 9’s of 35 -1, so it went to back 6 and it was Darcy’s -2 21 that finally separated them.
On the Girls’ side, it was rising young star, Abigail Fleming of Bishop’s Stortford who would secure a 2 stroke margin of victory from Evie Crowhurst and Peyton Subohon.
For some, this Championship is not the end of the road, as they progress to both Regional and National Schools Championships.
As Year 10 an below winners, both Darcy and Abigail will progress to the England Schools National U16 Championship, May 17th, venue TBC.
Four boys and three girls (Oliver Bannister, Darcy Eaton, Niam Patel, Marcus Karim, Amelie Stewart, Alecia Ibekwem and Eve Warren) are guaranteed a place at England Schools Regional Championship, date and venue TBC.
We wish them well in those future Championships.
