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Sant hits the double
North Warks GC – Tuesday 3rd August 2004. A year ago to the day, Jack Sant (at aged 13) stated he wanted to emulate Paul Broadhurst in winning the Warwickshire U15s two years in succession. It was a positive message that Jack has carried with him since as he progresses rapidly through the ranks of Warwickshire Junior Golf and today; he lived up to his word with a score of 2 under par for the 27 holes of the Championship.

The names on the U15s Shield and on a special Honours Board in the clubhouse of North Warks are a testament to the success of our County – Broadhurst (79 & 80), James Cook (82), Simone Morgan (84), Sam Walker (89 & 92), Jamie Elson in 96 and for the last three years, Jack Hamblett, Andy Sullivan and a certain J Sant Esq.

‘You are always going to be a bit nervous’, said Sant after his rounds, ‘But I like the nerves and it’s a good feeling to defend.’

It wasn’t the best of starts, with bogies at 1 and 3, before two steadying birdies in the first nine took jack out in level. The Ladbrook star then went on a bit of a rampage, with red numbers at 2,3 and 4 and he had a 10ft putt on the 5th to go four under with a par five to come.

‘I’ve had quite a few sub par rounds – nothing though under 70 in medal play. When I looked over that putt I was thinking about a 67.’

Jack missed his birdie there then dropped a shot at the 7th, one of the hardest par threes in the region. It was a hole he would birdie twice though on the day, and was a red number in Jack’s third playing of the club’s nine holes for 36 to go with that opening 70.

‘I have just won the Faldo qualifying for the Midlands and East Anglia – for my age group – but things haven’t been going perfectly. The last time I saw my teacher, Neil McEwan, was seven weeks ago. I saw him again yesterday and he said I should come along more often.’

‘We have arranged for me to see Neil every four weeks. Yesterday he gave me three things to work on – keeping my chin up, strengthening my right hand and being a bit flatter on the backswing. My lesson was at 11.30 and I went back to Ladbrook to work on the range there. Things didn’t change immediately but it was really good today.’

Jack will be too old to win another U15s next year. Brian Fish, Chairman of Junior Golf, was out on the course all day looking at the younger players, trying to spot the potential for teams and championships winners for three of four years time.

Runner up was a very pleased Andrew Geraghty on 114 (+6). Andrew beat Ben Manners by three shots for third place.

Final Scores

Jack Sant 106

Andrew Geraghty 114

Ben Manners 117

James Hale 119

Robert Bardsley 120

Tim Austin 121

There were some incredible performances in the Nett Competition and full details and more pictures will be added to the Gallery in COUNTY MEN | CHAMPIONSHIPS | U15s | PICTURES very shortly.

David Morgan on 2004-08-03