It was a record field in itself, 78 players on the starting sheet, including 7 guests taking the opportunity to have a competitive round early in the season and to have a chance at the significant JoM points on offer. It was also possibly a unique record for any Amatuer golf event in England, maybe the UK, as from the feature below this you will be able to see the live scoring facility that was available to users of this site.

Just like the Pro Tour web sites, from 11.45 through to 2.30, every time a player finished, this leaderboard was updated with their complete scores (with birdies showing in red) and the best scores were shown as a true leaderboard. To our knowledge, this was the first occasion that this level of scoring has been available for an amateur event. Back though to the Championships.

‘I am really chuffed’ said Andy after his win, ‘It wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that I had found any confidence, event though I have been working hard on my swing.’

‘I had 29 putts, which is OK, though the mistake of the round was taking four to get down after I’d driven the greenside bunker at the 9th (a short par four).’

Andy will take his place in the Warwickshire team for the Midland Schools, along with Sam Foster (last year’s England Schools Runner-Up), Dale Marson (2003 Warwickshire Schools Boys Champion) and debutant, Neil Taylor from Rugby.

Neil was third in this Championship with a 76 (+3), the same score as Jack Raison (Robin Hood). Jack has a wild card place at the Midlands, giving him a chance at making it to the England Schools in late June if he can claim one of the top 12 places. Also going as a wild card will be last year’s Boys and U21s Champion Chris Hazeldine.

Overall second place gross went to a guest, Jamie Melton (Nuneaton) with a 74 and the best nett from the guests was won by Stuart Slater (Maxstoke) with his own 75 nett 67.

Good scores also came from Alex Taylor, Steve Mumford and Chris Dougill, the latter two names surely destined to play for Warwickshire Schools for the next few years as they represent a continuing band of very talented younger guys coming along to take over from the winning team the country already has.

The Warwickshire U16s Shield was won by Andrew Bate with a gross 78. The qualification for this title has been confirmed as a player who will be U16 as of the date of the England Schools which is on 9th August 2004. Andrew will hopefulyl be able to take up his automatic qualification for this championship and represent Warwickshire later this year.

The Nett Trophy, the ‘Wales’ Cup went to a 13 year old who has been playing only two years, and who with his first shot of the day nearly took a lump out of Brian Fish, on the course to watch some of the morning’s play. Harry Street may have hit a wayward first tee shot but it was possibly his last poor swing as he came in at the very end of the field with a 92 nett 66 to claim his first trophy – apart from a putting competition he won at Kenilworth last year. Harry will be off 23 the next time he plays.

The amateur course record at Henley is 70 and for 12 holes Rob Browning was looking at smashing it as he stood on the par three 12th tee at –3 for the day, with two par fives to come. Unfortunately Rob, the 2003 JoM Champion, lost six shots in the next six holes recording two double bogeys. He will be looking to keep his score going tomorrow in the Boys Trials.

At the prizegiving, the Schools organisers expressed their sincere thanks to Henley Golf and Country Club, to Graham Wright from the Directors and all his Staff and to the Club Captain for presenting the prizes. It was the most successful Schools Championships yet and Warwickshire will be very strongly represented at the Midland Schools and beyond in 2004.

CSS for the competition was 72 and all players are reminded that they should make adjustements to their playing handicap as required. With GSA numbes, results can be forward automatically to their home clubs.