The draw was in handicap order so teeing off in the second group were the two defending champions, Sam Hufton (Arden) and Felicity Johnson (Hillcrest). Sam had an early birdie at the 2nd but followed that with 3 bogies to turn in 37. Felicity was under par after 9, 3 birdies and 1 bogey taking her clear of all the field (both boys and girls) for 34 out. Brian Fish, Chairman of Warwickshire Junior Golf, was heard to say he would have picked her there and then for the Boys team had she been available, as he watched nearly all the Counties best Juniors before picking the Warwickshire Junior Team later this week.

Oliver West, Schools Champion in 2000, was too old to be considered for the Warks Juniors and despite his 10th placing (with a 79) he will Captain the Warwickshire Schools Team at the Midland Schools in early June. Off scratch, people like Oliver have suffered from the general demise of Colts (U21 s) Golf across England. Warwickshire were one of the very last Counties to withdraw from Colts team golf and probably did so because of a lack of opposition. This has all left 18+ year olds with a competitive season which doesn t start until May and later.

Last year, Jak Hamblett and Sam Foster were 1&2 at the U15 s Championship. Bar Jon Wetton, these two Juniors are the lowest handicaps in Warwickshire. Placing in the first group, Sam took a 3 stroke lead after 9, increasing his advantage to 4 after 14. Jak,who would eventually triumph at the 1st play off hole with a birdie, had been 5 over par after 6 - I looked at the card and saw 5 par 5 s to come so I wasn t too worried at that stage

The 15th was the key hole. Sam took 7 to Jak s birdie 4. Another Hamblett birdie at 16 and the two were level. Both finished par par for 75 s and had a long wait whilst the rest of the lower handicap Juniors made their way back to the Clubhouse.

2001 Champion Sam Hufton (Arden) had turned in 37, +2 for the Championship. He started the back nine 6 4 7 to really loose all chance of retaining his title but bravely finished with 3 birdies for 76, one back. Andy Sullivan (Hartshill), along with Andrew Evans (City Technical College), two starring 14 year olds, was +1 after nine but played the back nine in 40 for another 76. It would be good enough to make the Warwickshire Schools Team but he and Evans will no doubt be playing for the Championship title in the next three or four years.

Any of these players would have wanted a back nine that Steve Mumford (Finham Park) managed - 35 (2 under par). Steve is only 13 and he may well turn into another top Warwickshire Junior. He is the same age as Hannah Coles (Coleshill) who has been runner-up to Felicity Johnson for many events over the past two or three years. Once again, Hannah could not manage to really challenge Felicity, although she would have had to play to her very best on this day to get close. Johnson had bunker trouble and came back in 43 for a 77 and her first Schools title without too much trouble from fellow competitors. Her scoring was a sure sign that she will be down to 2 or 3 very shortly and with Hannah gaining confidence very round, they will form a very strong Warwickshire Schools Girls Team for 2002.

Two girls made top 5 in the competition for the Wales Trophy - Lauren Wayte (Nicholas Chamberlain) and Charlotte Bradley (Kenilworth) handed in 69 s, just 5 shots back from the winning score. There will be a girls winner very soon and it may well be either Vikki Smith, aged 11 or the wonderful swing of Hannah McLoughlin. Hannah is only 7 and her score of 147 was a very good first Championship 18.

A 12 and two 9 s ruined Ella Parry s card. Ella plays out of Stratford and any score closer to par on those 3 holes and she would have challenged her fellow Stratfordian, Martyn Helliker for his winning 64. Off a handicap of 16, Martyn would have broken 80 but for a 7 at the 17th.

The prizes were presented by the Captain of Stratford, Mr Dennis Forsyth and the Ladies Captain, Mrs Anne Gibbs. In a double act closing speech the Girls and Boys champions, the excellent hard, fast greens and the welcome of Stratford was of particular mention. One of the starters, Stratford member Mr Arthur Barnett, made a presentation for the U16 s trophy on the day itself so that the Schools now has a complete set of trophies for all its categories. The 2002 Schools was one of the most successful in its history and with it being the first event for Warwickshire Junior Order of Merit Points, its status has been raised for the future. Past winners have included Steve Webster, Paul Broadhurst and Sam Walker. Jak Hamblett, Warwickshire Schools and U16 s Champion for 2002 may well be one to watch but all the players mentioned in this report and several others have the ability to do just as well.