Junior golfers excelled at Poult Wood Junior Open Golf Competition

Congratulations to Junior golfers!

Junior golfers from across Kent and Sussex excelled themselves in this year's Poult Wood Junior Open Golf Competition by achieving fantastic results in all categories of the competition.

More than 95 young golfers from clubs across the country entered competition, which is run by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and is now in its seventeenth year. The aim of the competition is to give boys and girls aged between eight and seventeen the opportunity to test their skills on the 9 and 18-hole courses at Poult Wood Golf Centre.

The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Dave Davis, presented trophies and prizes to the winners in each category, as well as the overall winner and the winner of the scratch competition.

The overall winner of the tournament was James Whyte, of Poult Wood Golf Centre's Panthers junior section, who has been playing golf regularly for only 3 years, after he first played the 9-hole competition in 2009. Before then, he had just played a little in the back garden, but went on to be coached by Gavin Lingard PGA at Poult Wood. He now practises every weekend and has his sights firmly set on a career as a professional golfer.

The winners of each category were:

Open age category on 18-hole course - boys (for those aged 8 to 17 years who hold an official golf handicap) and overall winner of the Junior Open: 12 year old James Whyte, of Poult Wood Golf Centre's Panthers junior section

Scratch winner on 18-hole course (for those aged 8 to 17 years): Jordan Miles, of Kings Hill Golf Club

Powerplay winner on 9-hole course (for those aged 8 to 17 years): Davis Jones, of the Nevill Golf Club

On the 9-hole course - boys and girls (for those aged 8 to 10 years without an official golf handicap): James Norris

On the 9-hole course - boys and girls (for those aged 11 to 13 years without an official golf handicap): Spencer Copley

On the 9-hole course - boys and girls (for those aged 14 to 17 years without an official golf handicap): George Cockayne

David Copsey, Head Golf Professional at Poult Wood Golf Centre, said: "It was a fantastic day and I was delighted to see so many young people enjoying half term and showing such skill and sportsmanship. I was particularly impressed with how they all coped with the adverse weather conditions. I would like to congratulate all those who took part and look forward to following the progress of these young golfers in the years to come."