Gaudet Luce Golf Club held their 2021 junior open on Sunday 23^rd May, following its absence the year before due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Previous events have generally been held in fine spring weather, traditionally the last week in May before the late Bank Holiday.  However this year, weather conditions were not so kind, which results in perhaps one of our toughest Junior Opens in terms of scoring conditions.

Despite several weeks of unusually high rainfall in the weeks leading up to the event, and terrible forecasts predicted for the day, the morning of the event stayed reasonable dry, and the event went ahead as planned, but under wet ground conditions.  Despite the rain trying to hold off, we had not however predicted just how windy the day would be, which presented the greatest challenge to players, with gusting winds forcing many players to explore parts of the golf course usually reserved for scenery!

Our Junior Event is always well supported, not just by players but also by our generous sponsors; The Junior European Open, Compass Computing and Fire Safe Services Ltd, in addition to our Junior Section committee and members.  The 18 hole event was a County Order Of Merit event for both boys and girls, and a Justin Rose Telegraph Junior qualifying event too, which ensured that plenty of prizes, trophies and accolades were up for grabs.

Our 9 hole mixed stableford event, featuring the higher handicap juniors arguably caught the worst of the weather, teeing off after the 18 hole event and playing through the afternoon’s stormy conditions.  This required plenty of resilience, however all players competed in great spirits, and we heard fantastic feedback, praise and enthusiasm from the various supervisors that accompanied the playing groups.  The 9 hole Stableford results finished with Aidan Cunneen (Redditch Golf Club) in first place with 15 points, followed by Alex McVeigh (Gaudet Luce GC) in 2^nd place with 13 points, narrowly ahead of Matthew Griffiths (Gaudet Luce) and Arthur Hanks (Gaudet Luce GC) just missing out on the places with 12 points each.

The 9 hole nearest the pin prizes were claimed by Ella Ashton (Burghill Valley GC) for the girls, and Aiden Cunneen (Redditch Golf Club) for the boys.

Aidan Cunneen (Redditch Golf Club presented with the 9 Hole Stableford Junior Open 1st Place by Gaudet Luce GC Junior Captain Mark Hewlett Jnr, and Club Captain John Wright.

The 18 Hole Junior Open Girls event title was claimed by Olivia Williams (Churchill and Blakedown GC) with a fine round of 73, which was low enough to win Best Girls Gross by a clear 3 strokes, and also claim the 1^st Place Girls Net prize too with a Net 72.  Olivia’s round was the only score under par on the day, showing just how tough the course conditions were, and her score deservedly finishing in first place in both categories.

2^nd place Girls Net went to Rosanna Halls (Cleobury Mortimer GC) with Net 75, followed by Holly Murphy (Kings Norton) with Net 78.  The 4^th place Girls Net was tied with 3 players each scoring Net 79  between Louise Krone (Kings Norton GC), Sophia Harris (Gaudet Luce GC) and Maisie Whittall (Gaudet Luce) GC, with Sophia Harris winning 4^th place on countback.

The Girls Longest Drive was won by Holly Murphy (Kings Norton GC) and the Nearest the Pin was won by Olivia Williams (Churchill and Blakedown GC).

The 18 Hole Junior Open Boys event saw a similar margin of victory, and in this category only two players scoring at or below their handicap.  Gaudet Luce’s own Junior Captain, Mark Hewlett Jnr (Gaudet Luce GC) proudly claimed the 18 Hole Junior Open Boys Gross title, with a fantastic round of 75 to win by 2 clear strokes.

The Boys 18 Hole Junior Open Net category was won by Harry Bryce (Telford GC ) with a Net 70, which narrowly edged ahead of Mark Hewlet Jnr (Gaudet Luce GC) with his Net 71.  3^rd Place Boys Net went to Elliot Jones (Droitwich GC) with Net 74, with the 4^th place Boys Net also seeing a tie with Alex Perry (Gaudet Luce GC) and Oskar Nielsen (Bransford GC) both scoring Net 75, with Alex Perry winning on countback.

The Boys nearest the pin was claimed by Hayden Sarfo (Worcester GCC) and the boys Longest Drive went to Elliot Jones (Droitwich GC).

Harry Bryce (Telford GC) presented with Boys 1st
Net, with Gaudet Luce GC Junior Captain Mark
Hewlett Jnr and Club Captain John Wright.

Olivia Williams (Churchill and Blakedown GC)
presented with Girls 1st Gross and 1st Net, and
Gaudet Luce GC Junior Captain Mark Hewlett Jnr
presented with Boys 1st Gross (and Boys 2nd Net),
by Club Captain John Wright.

Our Junior Event would not be able to go ahead without the energy and enthusiasm of our Junior Committee, and our volunteer members who generously gave up their time to support our Junior Open by supervising, organising, donating, and helping.  We also wish to thank Gaudet Luce Golf Club’s Management team, who worked tirelessly with their greenkeeping staff to ensure this event could go ahead safely, and ensure the course was playable even in the difficult weather conditions we have seen throughout this year.

We very much look forward to welcoming all of the players back in 2022.