TALENTED YOUNGSTERS WIN ENGLAND SKILLS NATIONAL FINAL

Eight talented youngsters have been crowned 2013 champions of England Golf’s National Skills Challenge, supported by FootJoy, the #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf. They won their titles on Saturday, 28th September, at The National Golf Centre, Woodhalll Spa, where the facilities are among the best in Europe. The event was contested by 32 young golfers, who were among 1400 youngsters who started out in the competition. The finalists had all taken part in two official challenge events at their golf clubs earlier in the year and then won through one of four regional finals. They showed off some fantastic putting, chipping, bunker, pitching and long game skills, with some great scores achieved on the challenging set-up on the famous short game academy. The 2013 champions (image © John Thomson) are: Rookie 8 years and under Boys’ winner – Jack Dart of Churston Golf Club, Devon Girls’ Winner – Chloe Brown of Faversham Golf Club, Kent Rookie 9 to 11 years Boys’ winner – Drew Mackinnon of Southampton Golf Club, Hampshire Girls’ winner – Bethany Fletcher of Heysham Golf Club, Lancashire Tour 12 to 14 years Boys’ winner – Scott Parker of Royal North Devon Golf Club, Devon Girls’ winner – Chloe Rose of Clacton-on-Sea Golf Club, Essex Tour 15 to 17 years Boys’ winner - Charley Mycock of Bakewell Golf Club, Derbyshire. Girls’ winner – Megan Cullen of Heysham Golf Club, Lancashire The National Skills Challenge, which aims to make practice fun for young golfers, is one of a host of England Golf initiatives which support junior golf. It is now in its eighth year and continues to progress with 850 clubs registered and over 7000 juniors involved nationwide. England Golf are delighted that FootJoy, the #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf, has continued to support the National Skills Challenge in 2013 and kindly donated products and prizes to the qualifiers and winners. Russell Lawes, FootJoy’s European Marketing Manager, said: "Grass roots golf is immensely important in making golf more accessible to individuals and we are committed to supporting the stars of tomorrow. “This is a fantastic initiative that provides a fun and easy way for junior golfers to improve all aspects of their game in an extremely well organised, enjoyable and relaxed environment. “2013 has been another extremely successful year and we at FootJoy would like to congratulate not only just the winners but all junior golfers who participated in this fantastic event. We are proud to assist such a great programme”. Richard Flint, England Golf Development Manager, said: “Every year we are amazed and impressed by the golfing talent shown by our finalists. “The Skills Challenge is a great way for clubs to inspire young golfers to improve and we’d like to see even more clubs represented, giving their juniors an opportunity to take part and potentially qualify for the regional and national finals.” For more information on the National Skills Challenge visit www.getintogolf.org/skills    The following players qualified for the 2013 National Final: Rookie 8 years and under Will Bradfield - Barnham Broom Golf & Country Club, Norfolk Jack Dart - Churston Golf Club, Devon Chanon James – Kenilworth Golf Club, Warwickshire Thomas Rogerson – Heysham Golf Club, Lancashire Chloe Brown - Faversham Golf Club, Kent Carys Morris – Portmore Golf Club, Devon Holly Waterfield – Lutterworth Golf Club, Leicestershire Ayane Butterworth – Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club, Yorkshire Rookie 9 to 11 years George Fricker - Ufford Park Golf Club, Suffolk Drew Mackinnon - Southampton Golf Club, Hampshire Archie Davies – Spalding Golf Club, Lincolnshire. Robert Hillier – Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy, Yorkshire Molly Dixon - Betchworth Park Golf Club, Surrey Shannon Parfitt - Weymouth Golf Club, Dorset Kati Powell – Lutterworth Golf Club, Leicestershire Bethany Fletcher – Heysham Golf Club, Lancashire Tour 12 to 14 years William Smith - Ufford Park Golf Club, Suffolk Scott Parker - Royal North Devon Golf Club, Devon Luke Turbutt – Robin Hood Golf Club (Solihull), Warwickshire James Swash – Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy, Yorkshire Chloe Rose - Clacton-on-Sea Golf Club, Essex Jessica Francis - Churston Golf Club, Devon Charlotte Voysey – Wharton Park Golf Club, Worcestershire Lauren Green – West Lancashire Golf Club, Lancashire Tour 15 to 17 years Chay Robinson - Clacton-on-Sea Golf Club, Essex Connor Aitken - Weymouth Golf Club, Dorset Charley Mycock – Bakewell Golf Club, Derbyshire. Matthew Bargh – Heysham Golf Club, Lancashire Khadejar Khan - Fairlop Waters Golf Club, Essex Rebekah Nicholls - Dainton Park Golf Club, Devon Clare Wilkie – Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club, Bedfordshire Megan Cullen – Heysham Golf Club, Lancashire   Press Office England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526 354500