GIRLS UNDER 14 BOYS UNDER 13

Kiren Matharu (Sandmoor GC) Christopher Lloyd (Kendleshire GC)

GIRLS UNDER 15 BOYS UNDER 14

Jodi Ewart (Catterick GC) Henry Smart (Banstead GC)

GIRLS UNDER 16 BOYS UNDER 15

Melissa Reid (Chevin GC) Lewis Edmunds (West Cornwall GC)

BOYS UNDER 16 Lee Lewis (Gower GC)

GIRLS DUKE OF YORK TROPHY WINNER - Melissa Reid

BOYS DUKE OF YORK TROPHY WINNER - Henry Smart

There was plenty of excitement on the closing day with the Under-16 Boys section of the Golf Foundation Weetabix Age Group Championship ending in a tie between Lee Lewis and Adam Bates. They returned to the course for a four hole play-off which was eventually won by defending champion Lewis. Lewis stamped his authority on the very first hole, getting a birdy 3 compared to Bates’ bogey 5. The following 3 holes were tied allowing Lewis to take the winner’s trophy.

In the girls competition, Melissa Reid successfully defended her title, this year winning the Girls Under 16. As well as winning her age group, Melissa Reid from Chevin GC won the Duke of York Trophy with the best individual gross score. Melissa started with a score of 67, followed by 68 on the final day to finish with a total gross score of 135 (3 under par). Winner of the boys Duke of York trophy was Henry Smart from Banstead GC who shot a 69 on Tuesday followed by a 70 on Wednesday for a final score of 139.

“The 2003 grand final was a huge success. The support that we receive from Weetabix allows us to host such a prestigious tournament and we cannot thank them enough for their continued enthusiasm. The Golf Foundation is very proud to be a part of such an influential event” said Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation.

The Grand Final also benefited from the addition of two golf clinics for the junior competitors. These involved European Tour professional and newly appointed Youth Ambassador for the Golf Foundation, Nick Dougherty. Nick was extremely popular with all the youngsters, providing them with an invaluable insight into life as a professional tour golfer.

Nick Dougherty, himself only 21 years of age, said of the day,

"I love being involved like this. It s great to be able help junior golfers, just as I was assisted in my game a few years ago. The Golf Foundation and Age Group Championships are vitally important for developing junior golfers. It is at this early age that we need to nurture young golfers’ talent and enthusiasm for the game in order to maintain their interest in golf and prevent losing talented players to other sports.”