2006 JOM Championship and the Final Junior Order of Merit

Home /

Saturday 7th October - The West Midlands Golf Club - the 23 JOM Championship qualifiers came the the West Midlands Golf Club to play for the final batch of JOM points, the most significant of the year, many knowing that winning on the day could take them to the top of the JOM itself, such was the level of achievement they had over the season. In numerical terms, some 15 players could win the JOM Trophy, if the leaders (in the JOM) did not play well.

In truth, there were perhaps five players who knew that a win would definitely see them taking home the wonderful prizes from Titleist and the Birmingham Post Salver

One player dominated Warwickshire Championships and that was Rory Kirwan. In demand for both Senior and Junior golf, Rory had little time left over for club and Junior Opens so his fabulous 3800 or so points would not be added to. Rory could not play on the day of the JOM Championship, so eventually had to settle for 7th place in the final standings of the JOM.

The handicap drops over 2006 from the 23 players were incredible. One player though stood out from everyone and that was Jonathan Bryan. Jonathan turned up at the 2006 Schools having already lopped a handful of shots off his start of the year 19. It was a foul day and he had no umbrella so he borrowed one and then proceeded to play some great golf to win that Nett trophy and start his year off very well.

Jonathan followed that up with more success at his club, and some Top 3 placings in Warwickshire Championships, plus a few good rounds in Junior Opens. It all added up to the lead in the JOM, before the JOM Championships themselves. There was one problem for Jonathan on the day itself - he could not get his own golf clubs so had to borrow a set for the JOM Championship. Would the leading points scorer for Shirley be able to produce his 'A' game with unfamiliar 'sticks'.

Coventry Hearsall had five finalists, including the youngest player in the field Rhys Lawrence, a player with another big drop in handicap from 24 to 13. Also playing were the two Ibbertson brothers, Harry and Tom - Harry was definitely in contention for the JOM itself barely 800 points behind Bryan.

The other club with several players who made the Top 15, the first criterion for playing in the JOM Championship, was Maxstoke and Andrew Geraghty was their leading points scorer. Andrew was less than 300 points behind Bryan (so very much a contender) after a season where his handicap had dropped from 5-3 and there had been numerous high placings in all three categories of events.

Jonathan Bryan started his JOM Championship 18 well enough, on a day when the length of the course and a stiff breeze was making life difficult for most. The crucial first mistake was at the par thee 6th when Jonathan did not score in the stableford competition. A point and the 7th and th e9th was not what was needed but Jonathan conjured a par at the 499 yard 8th, one of less than a handful to make regulation figures at the monster hole.

Jonathan was in the same three ball as Harry Ibbertson. After a 1,2,1 point start Harry found his game at the next two going birdie, par-nett birdie and turned in 18, one shot off the lead for the JOM Championship, held by Sam Baker (Sutton Coldfield).

Bryan drifted out of contention when Ibbertson sealed the JOM istelf with an approach to inches at the 436 15th for four points. The question was whether any of Bryan's nearest competition were playing well enough to make the Top 12 and score enough points to overtake him.

Two players in contention for the 2007 Junior Team were helping Bryan out by storming round the back nine - James Hale (Maxstoke) with 19 points and Sam Newey (Shirley). They would take second and third in the JOM Championships behind Ibbertson.

The only player who could now overtake Bryan was Andrew Geraghty (Maxstoke). Twenty-nine points was the mark to score JOM Championship points and Geraghty made it - just!

That gave Andrew 200 points and he overtook Jonathan Bryan by just 95 points for second place in the JOM itself.

The Results :

JOM Championship - CSS 74 - Par 72 - Competitors please inform your Handicap Secretary of any adjustments

1. H Ibbertson - 38 points

2= J Hale - 34

2= S Newey - 34

4= J Carney - 32

4= C Freeman - 32

6= T Butterworth - 31

6= S Baker - 31

8= R Rankine - 30

8= J Scott - 30