Lea Marston Par 3 is a Championship standard design that is used by so many golfers of all standards. It has sloping greens and plenty of bunkers, and water, to hide pins away. The greens were in excellent condition and with the slopes, they represented an additional skill challenge to what was a Championship where the standards of play were not affected by the length of bigger courses. The top field (all the best U11s in Warwickshire and the West Midlands) were to be tested for their accuracy and their nerve.

From the early starters, Alice Young posted a very respectable 29 points, playing the nine holes in just seven over par. This score included 4 pars. Glenn Wellings was next in with one better, 20 points but his place at the top of the leaderboard was short lived as pre tournament favourite, Nathan Ray posted 31.

Nathan has played in the Boys Championship this year, 36 holes of very respectable golf. He has also partnered the County President in a Club competition at Maxstoke – and he beat him! Nathan has a wonderful technique and plenty of experience – those playing without handicaps or lots of tournament play were just as good to watch. It was wonderful golf from all an Nathan knew he had to be at his best. A five at the 4th cost him breaking 30 strokes for the nine holes.

Whilst Nathan plays his golf in the north of our Counties, Jamie Carney is from Shirley, another ‘hot-bed’ of young golfers. He had a disastrous start, two bogies and a double and then he turned on the style, playing the next six in just one over par, a mistake at the 8th. That gave him 31 points and first place, on last six, from Nathan. Would it last?

In the last pairing, friendly (but very real) rivals Daanyal Spalding was playing with Hannah McLoughlin, along with Thomas Hook. Daanyal was had the better scores over the past few Junior Opens and Hannah whispered when she registered that ‘today I am going to beat him’. She kept that promise and scored 30 points whilst Daanyal had too many fives on his card.

The presentations were made by Count President Tony Reading and Lea Marston Director Mark Blake. Alice Young was Runner up for the best girl, the medal going to Hannah McLoughlin. Runner up for the title of Champion U11 was Nathan Ray but the Champion golfer for 2003 was the very deserving Jamie Carney. Like all the field he will still be young enough to play next year. If all the players continue to improve, it could be a very special days golf to watch next year and this year, parents were allowed to caddie so the scene was reminiscent of the Open with players marching onto the greens, their caddies dutifully following on. The future of Warwickshire golf is in some very good hands!

For more pictures, including individual swings, please go to CountyMen / Championships / Junior / Pictures