These efforts represented nett 70s for both players, one over the SSS for the course, a much longer front nine with four par fives and a shorter back nine to finish a round which included four par threes. Another guest, Clayton Turvey showed that 70 could be beaten with a nett 69 but for the Players involved for the Warwickshire Boys Championships, there was the added pressure of playing for a trophy which has the names of many of the best Warwickshire Amateurs engraved on its plinth.

Jack Sant took 40 going out and his 36 home would leave him Top 3 but disappointed although with the consolation of making the Warwickshire Team for the Midland Schools. The eventual runner-up for the Boys title (on countback) was Neil Taylor, again with a 76 due mainly to going out in 41. Two players who will surely feature in future Schools Championships also had 76s – last years U16s Champion Andy Bate and Ben Bernamont.

Dale Marson won the Warwickshire Schools two year ago at Olton, his first big success. Dale will Captain the team for the Midland Schools and with a scratch handicap, he will be in the field for the McEvoy along with Sullivan and Browning. He matched these two players with a level par 38 going out and when he had a 3 foot putt for a par on the 15th to stay level par, he was looking at his second Schools Championship. When Marson missed that, he could still take the title by parring in. However, the Rugby star made a hash of the 17th then took a 7 at the 18th to miss out.

Taylor and Marson were part of the Warwickshire College team who posted and early leading total for the Warwickshire Schools Championships, the best team qualifying their School or College to play in the English Schools team Championships at John O’Gaunt in August. Their score of 97 would be beaten by John Wilmott School with 101, a total which included 41 points from Sam Teather.

The winning team and therefore sending their School to Bedfordshire was St Peters. The players involved, all from a big entry from Shirley Golf Club were the two Street brothers Harry and Jack, and Rory Cleary.

For the Nett Championship, it was very close until the last (and very damp) groups playing handed in their cards. First in was Tom Downey, at school at Fairfax and playing out of a Wishaw. Playing off 28, Tom posted a gross 86 for a nett 58!

Just five strokes back with a nett 63 was George Allen, at school at Lode Heath and playing at Shirley. Four very young golfers also played well – 9 year old Joshua Hughes from Walmley had a nett 68, Daanyal Spalding was best gross for the 10s and unders and will be one of the favourites for the U11s in August, Maxwell Martin played in his first Warwickshire Championship whilst Jamie Carney showed much promise with a gross 80.

The U16s winner was Andrew Geraghty whilst Wishaw will host the qualifying round for Warwickshire for the McPartlin Trophy after Tom Downey’s win in the Nett.

Whilst others sat in the bar, one golfer went away for more coaching. With a work ethic that most could not keep up with, Rory Kirwan has pushed his way into County contention through lots of good scores. Rory could have thought about missing his practice session as when he left he was clubhouse leader for the Boys Championship with a 74. His round was two definite halves – 41 going out (+3) and then a back nine of just 33 to take the title with a 74, the 33 was only matched by one player and beaten by Andy Sullivan. If Rory did go away to iron out any problems which might have been responsible for his front nine 41, his golf coming home represented the quality need to win this Championship and he is a very worthy winner.

CLICK HERE For the results sheet for the 2005 Schools