1 September 2010: English international, Holly Clyburn, the reigning Faldo Series Europe Girls’ champion, can look forward to defending her title after battling her way through to this year’s Grand Final by winning the Girls’ Under-21 category at the Faldo Series UK Championship at Trentham Golf Club in Staffordshire, England.
However, Clyburn, from Woodhall Spa, a member of the 2010 GB & I Curtis Cup team, had to earn her place in the Grand Final the hard way, only defeating compatriot, Elizabeth Haycock, in a sudden-death play-off after both had finished the 36-hole event at Trentham on level par 146.
She also had to settle for second place behind English junior international, Lauren Taylor, in the race for the overall Girls’ prize with her younger compatriot firing rounds of 70 and 75 to win the Girls’ Under-16 age group on 145.
That fine performance saw Woburn’s Taylor book her place alongside Clyburn at the 14th Faldo Series Europe Grand Final, which is to be hosted by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo and played over the Faldo Course at the Lough Erne Resort, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, on September 21-23.
Jack Brooks (Boys’ Under-21), Ryan Wallace (Boys’ Under-18) and Dan Phillimore (Boys’ Under-16) also battled through to the Grand Final after winning their respective age groups at Trentham and now have a chance to succeed 2009 Boys’ champion, England’s Jonathan Bell, in this prestigious annual event supported by The R&A, the European Tour and Lough Erne Resort and also backed by The PGA within the UK.
Clyburn arrived at Trentham as favourite to win the girls’ title but she knew she would face stiff competition from a strong field that also included 2008 Faldo Series Europe Girls’ champion, Hannah Barwood, and Heidi Baek, the talented English junior international from Felixstowe Ferry.
The 2009 English and French Girls’ champion took a one stroke lead over Haycock after an opening round of one under par 72 but she missed out on the chance to claim victory over the girl from Moseley when she carded a bogey six on the final hole of her second round before bouncing back with a birdie on the first extra hole.
Taylor began her challenge with a two over par 75 before recovering with a near flawless three under par 70 that included four birdies and just one dropped shot on the 33-yard par-4 13th hole. That fine performance saw her claim a notable one shot victory over the more experienced Clyburn in the race for the overall girls’ prize and left her 15 shots ahead of Trentham’s Emily Coleman in the Girls’ Under-16 age group.
In the Boys’ event, Under-21 age group winner, Jack Brooks from Pleasington, produced the performance of the tournament, carding rounds of 69 and 71 to post a 36-hole aggregate of four under par 140, three shots ahead of runner-up Nicky Maddison from the City of Newcastle Golf Club. James Fox, from Trentham, came third, carding rounds of 69 and 75 to finish on level par 144.
Boys’ Under-18 winner, Ryan Wallace, from Handsworth, also opened strongly with a two under 70 but then had to settle for a slender one stroke victory over Olton’s Michael Pell after carding a seven over par 79 in his second round. That left him on five over par 149, one shot ahead of Pell and three in front of Kristian Allen from North Worcestershire and Sam Benton from South Staffs.
First place in the Boys’ Under-16 age group category went to Dan Phillimore who claimed his place at Lough Erne after posting rounds of 75 and 76, to finish one shot ahead of Cameron Long from Drayton Park. Fraser Dawson from Ferndown claimed third place after two consecutive rounds of 77.
Leading scores at the Faldo Series UK Championship at Trentham Golf Club, Staffordshire
Boys’ Under-21
140 – Jack Brooks (Pleasington) 69-71
143 – Nicky Maddison (City of Newcastle) 70-73
144 – James Fox (Trentham) 69-75
145 – Marcus Mohr (Bromborough) 72-73, Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) 74-71
Boys’ Under-18
149 – Ryan Wallace (Handsworth) 70-79
150 – Michael Pell (Olton) 76-74
152 – Kristian Allen (North Worcestershire) 76-76, Sam Benton (South Staffs) 74-78
153 – Ian Martin (Kings Norton) 77-76, Jack Davis (Ashton Wood) 77-76
Boys’ Under-16
151 – Dan Phillimore (Manor House) 75-76
153 – Cameron Long (Drayton Park) 78-75
154 – Fraser Dawson (Ferndown) 77-77
155 – Henry James (Kidderminster) 76-79
156 – Oliver Farrell (Evesham) 78-78
Girls’ Under-21
146 – Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 72-74, Elizabeth Haycock (Moseley) 73-73 (Clyburn won on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off)
147 – Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry (75-72)
153 – Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 73-80, Emma Goddard (Vale Royal Millennium) 81-72
Girls’ Under-16
145 – Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 75-70
160 – Emily Coleman (Trentham) 79-81