Classy Carly and Super Stiggy
retain titles in Abu Dhabi
Curtis Cupper Carly Booth and Sunningdale wonder kid Stiggy Hodgson retained their titles today in the Daily Telegraph Junior Championships' Finals in the oppressive heat of Abu Dhabi.
Carly, 16 years old, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, will return to the snows of Perthshire and Glenalmond School after a week of temperatures over 30 degrees. But she showed her class once again by making all the running to win the girls' title by an impressive six shots with an eight-under-par total of 208.
Carly, the Scottish Under-18 girls' champion, beat the par of 72 in each round, leading by two shots after 18 holes and by six after two rounds. She scored 70, 68 and 70.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies), now 15, was runner-up to Carly in Dubai 12 months ago and filled the same position in Abu Dhabi with scores of 72, 72 and 70 for two-under-par 214.
Kelsey MacDonald, the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play champion from Nairn Dunbar and now a student at Stirling University, tied for third place on 218 with Hannah Barwood (Knowle), winner of the English women's championship this year.
Kelsey scored 75, 71 and 72; Hannah 73, 71 and 70.
Carly, 16 years old, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, will return to the snows of Perthshire and Glenalmond School after a week of temperatures over 30 degrees. But she showed her class once again by making all the running to win the girls' title by an impressive six shots with an eight-under-par total of 208.
Carly, the Scottish Under-18 girls' champion, beat the par of 72 in each round, leading by two shots after 18 holes and by six after two rounds. She scored 70, 68 and 70.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies), now 15, was runner-up to Carly in Dubai 12 months ago and filled the same position in Abu Dhabi with scores of 72, 72 and 70 for two-under-par 214.
Kelsey MacDonald, the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play champion from Nairn Dunbar and now a student at Stirling University, tied for third place on 218 with Hannah Barwood (Knowle), winner of the English women's championship this year.
Kelsey scored 75, 71 and 72; Hannah 73, 71 and 70.
“It feels good. I’m really pleased and it’s been a hard week but I played well,” said Carly Booth.
“I had a big lead and knew it was there for the taking but you never know until the last pin. I creamed a three-wood approach into the 18th and I knew for sure then. I took a deep breath and knew it was done – I did what I came to do.
“The National Course is very open and wide here in Abu Dhabi. It is also quite short and I have a good long game so it’s been perfect for me – I’m really happy,” added Booth.
Hodgson, 18-year-old winner of The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament at Dundonald Links a few weeks back and the Carris Trophy before that, did not have things all his own way in the boys' championship at Abu Dhabi.
British amateur finalist and England boys' captain Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall), leader through the first and second rounds, made most of the running and still held a two-shot lead after 11 holes in the final round.
Then came a big turnaround as Hodgson birdied and Fleetwood racked up a triple bogey on the 13th. Suddenly, Hodgson, the reigning champion, was two strokes ahead with only five holes to play. The players then traded birdies through the next four holes before they approached the 18th tee still separated by two shots in favour of Stiggy..
At the close of remarkable week, the Junior Golf Championship was far from over. Hodgson found a greenside bunker and could only bogey the hole. Fleetwood hit a wedge approach to two and half feet, then promptly holed out to make up the two-shot leeway, level the scores and force a play-off.
Fleetwood had seven birdies in his final round of five-under-par 67 for 12-under-par 204 which Hodgson matched with a closing
“I had a big lead and knew it was there for the taking but you never know until the last pin. I creamed a three-wood approach into the 18th and I knew for sure then. I took a deep breath and knew it was done – I did what I came to do.
“The National Course is very open and wide here in Abu Dhabi. It is also quite short and I have a good long game so it’s been perfect for me – I’m really happy,” added Booth.
Hodgson, 18-year-old winner of The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament at Dundonald Links a few weeks back and the Carris Trophy before that, did not have things all his own way in the boys' championship at Abu Dhabi.
British amateur finalist and England boys' captain Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall), leader through the first and second rounds, made most of the running and still held a two-shot lead after 11 holes in the final round.
Then came a big turnaround as Hodgson birdied and Fleetwood racked up a triple bogey on the 13th. Suddenly, Hodgson, the reigning champion, was two strokes ahead with only five holes to play. The players then traded birdies through the next four holes before they approached the 18th tee still separated by two shots in favour of Stiggy..
At the close of remarkable week, the Junior Golf Championship was far from over. Hodgson found a greenside bunker and could only bogey the hole. Fleetwood hit a wedge approach to two and half feet, then promptly holed out to make up the two-shot leeway, level the scores and force a play-off.
Fleetwood had seven birdies in his final round of five-under-par 67 for 12-under-par 204 which Hodgson matched with a closing
Nothing separated the pair down the first play-off hole, and they walked on to the 18th green - the second play-off hole – each facing long, turning putts. Fleetwood missed his 25-footer, before Hodgson held his own 15-footer to clinch the win.
“Retaining the trophy gives me great satisfaction. I’m the first boy in over a decade to do so and it’s nice to make a little bit of history,” said Hodgson.
“I knew it wasn’t over after 13, Tommy doesn’t give up and he’s a class player. In fact, he’s the best junior I’ve ever played against.
“He makes no mistakes and is a big, big hitter – much longer than me. I’ve hit great shots all week, my lines have been spot on and I’ve struck the ball well.
“I’ve had to play better golf to retain the trophy than I did to win it originally – so it’s great that I am improving,” he added.
“Retaining the trophy gives me great satisfaction. I’m the first boy in over a decade to do so and it’s nice to make a little bit of history,” said Hodgson.
“I knew it wasn’t over after 13, Tommy doesn’t give up and he’s a class player. In fact, he’s the best junior I’ve ever played against.
“He makes no mistakes and is a big, big hitter – much longer than me. I’ve hit great shots all week, my lines have been spot on and I’ve struck the ball well.
“I’ve had to play better golf to retain the trophy than I did to win it originally – so it’s great that I am improving,” he added.
They had tied on 12-under-par 204, Hodgson with a closing five-under-par 67, Fleetwood with a 69: brilliant scoring, given the length of the course - over 7,000 yards - and the strength-sapping heat - 12 strokes ahead of the third placed Sam Benton (Canons Brook).
North Berwick's Oliver Huish - son of David Huish who is to retire in April - finished joint eighth on 226, although he could claim the honour of having the lowest round by anyone in the championship - a six-under-par 66 in the second round. Oliver, sadly, slumped to an 82 on the final day.
FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
204 Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) 69 68 67, Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 67 68 69 (Hodgson won play-off at second extra hole).
216 Steven Jones (Canons Brook) 73 70 73.
220 Sam Benton (South Staffs) 71 76 73.
221 Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) 77 72 72, Robert Bardsley (Moor Hall) 72 73 76.
222 Michael Saunders (Dartford) 75 75 72.
226 David Hind (Mickleover) 81 72 73, Oliver Huish (North Berwick) 78 66 82.
227 Mark Geddes (Prenton) 77 76 74.
229 Bradley Hannah (Workington) 76 78 75.
232 Steve O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 77 78 77.
GIRLS
North Berwick's Oliver Huish - son of David Huish who is to retire in April - finished joint eighth on 226, although he could claim the honour of having the lowest round by anyone in the championship - a six-under-par 66 in the second round. Oliver, sadly, slumped to an 82 on the final day.
FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
204 Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) 69 68 67, Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 67 68 69 (Hodgson won play-off at second extra hole).
216 Steven Jones (Canons Brook) 73 70 73.
220 Sam Benton (South Staffs) 71 76 73.
221 Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) 77 72 72, Robert Bardsley (Moor Hall) 72 73 76.
222 Michael Saunders (Dartford) 75 75 72.
226 David Hind (Mickleover) 81 72 73, Oliver Huish (North Berwick) 78 66 82.
227 Mark Geddes (Prenton) 77 76 74.
229 Bradley Hannah (Workington) 76 78 75.
232 Steve O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 77 78 77.
GIRLS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 Carly Booth (Comrie) 70 68 70.
214 Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) 72 72 70.
218 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 71 72, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 73 71 70.
222 Gina Brown (Mere) 76 73 73, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 73 72 77, Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 71 74 77.
227 Nikki Dunn (Harrogate) 75 75 77.
243 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 83 79 81.
208 Carly Booth (Comrie) 70 68 70.
214 Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) 72 72 70.
218 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 71 72, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 73 71 70.
222 Gina Brown (Mere) 76 73 73, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 73 72 77, Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 71 74 77.
227 Nikki Dunn (Harrogate) 75 75 77.
243 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 83 79 81.
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 9:10:00 pm
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