Drayton Park Classic: report and results

From players were greeted at the front gate and given an information sheet for the day and parking attendants assisted everyone to find spaces to the PA system on the first tee, players were made to feel very special.

The weather largely held off after some worrying forecasts leading up to the event so everyone was more than happy with an overcast and grey, but reasonably warm, day.

In the Junior Open Division, a brilliant level par round of 70 from Thomas White deservedly secured the Pepperell Trophy for the lowest gross score along with the BJGT title and maximum Order of Merit Points, his 70 resulted in a net 66 which was good enough to take the net division win too so a great result for him. Theo Baker chased him all the way home, only missing out by a single shot, as he fired a fine 71 round the trick course with Luke Scholes completed the top 3 in the gross division on 76.

Luke and Theo changed places in the net division behind Thomas, with Luke’s 70 getting the better of Theo’s matching score in the countback over the back 9.

Elizabeth Ball used her local knowledge on her home track, to take the honours in the Girls Gross Division as she signed for a round of 83 to finish 2 shots ahead of Megan Bishop who went home with the runner-up trophy.

Amelia McGinty blitzed the whole field to win the Girls Net Division with a hugely impressive net 61, Sophia Benitez finished in second place 10-shots behind with a quite respectable 71.

A smaller field in the 13-14 Division here but no less quality on display as Oliver Baker put in a fine display to record a winning total of 76, 5 shots clear of Oscar Bolton and Ed Mason who had matching 81’s and therefore needed a countback to separate them, with Oscar having the better back 9.

The 11-12’s is always a close affair and this was no exception as Riley Banks took his first win of the 2021 season by a single stroke over Ellis Kerr as they posted scores of 78 and 79 respectively, Ely van der Merwe edged a countback decision over Finley White to claim third after they carded matching 81’s.

Darragh Sidhu returned to winning ways in the 9-10 Division and again the winning margin was just one shot as his 43 left Oliver McDonnell’s 44 in second, who in turn was only a single shot in front of Thomas James who played very nicely on his home course to take home a nice glass trophy.

Theo Oderinde was another player who returned to form to secure another victory, along with the all important maximum Order of Merit points, in the 7-8 Division as his 49 total for the 11 holes narrowly beat Mihir Pasura’s 49 on countback, Oliver Smith took his first podium finish of the year as he placed third on 51.

Hajira Marfleet really did it for the girls in the 6&Under Division as she not only placed first in the girls section but also overall, with her fine round of 59 for the 11 holes enough to secure her the win over Lilly Pielesz. Zachary Blayney topped to boys section with his round of 64 good enough to give him a 1-shot cushion over Harry Edgington in second and Jude Crowhurst in third another 2-hots further back.

The BJGT now heads off to the Summer Cup for 3 days at Belton Woods in Lincolnshire, let’s hope the weather holds for the next few days.