After storms Ciara and Dennis, everyone was holding their breath for the inaugural Winter Cup, but predominantly good, although wet, conditions faced the players right up until the final hour of play on Day 1, when virtually every weather condition was thrown at the players. Wind then took over on Day 2 as the predominant weather condition and the course became even trickier for the conclusion of the event.
6 & Under Category
With many of the 2019 players moving up to the 7-8 Division, the 6 & Under Division is always smaller at the start of the season, so Theo Oderinde and Alfie Skinner went head-to-head in the youngest division. On Day 1, Theo Oderinde came out on top with a fine round of 52 ahead of Alfie carding a round of 60, but Day 2 is bound to be exciting.
Theo made it a double on Day 2, but only by the narrowest of margins, as Alfie found some form as they posted rounds of 54 and 55, respectively, meaning he also claimed the overall Winter Cup title ahead of Alfie in second.
7-8 Category
Two superb rounds headed the 7-8 age group, as Alexander Dunmall and Dominic McKenna posted matching 39s, the only two sub-40 rounds of the day. They required countback to separate them, with Alexander coming out on top.
Sebastian Duffield, moving up from the 6 & Under division, came home in third after a round of 43, so nothing to separate them going into the deciding round.
The girls were lead home by a superb round from Georgia Groves, 6th overall, with a total of 48.
Dominic proved to be the boy in form this week, as his superb 42 in Round 2 was enough to claim the win on the day and with it the overall Winter Cup title. Alexander held on for second overall after a second round of 45, with Sully Donald climbing into the trophy places with his 43 on Day 2, good enough for second on the day, to go with his 45 on Day 1, while Oliver Hulbert (44) took third place on Day 2.
Stella Walters claimed the win on Day 2 with a second consecutive 55, but could not overturn the overnight lead held by Georgia who took the Girls Division Winter Cup title with rounds of 48 and 57.
9-10 Category
Fraser Mackenzie also proved that moving up an age division is no barrier, as he carried his superb form in to 2020 to claim the Day 1 spoils with a round of 41, two shots ahead of Oliver McDonnell in second, with Tristan Evans just a single shot further back in third, so they went all out to catch Fraser on Day 2!
The girls division saw Sapphire Boyce claim the winners glassware after a round of 53, ahead of Amelia McGinty in second.
Sapphire also took home the gold medal for Day 2, after a round of 56, and with it the Winter Cup trophy, as Amelia McGinty claimed the Silver Medal for Day 2 and the overall runner’s-up trophy, as both girls made a great start to their 2020 seasons.
Fraser Walters came through the pack taking the win on Day 2 with a total of 44, also claiming second place overall, ahead of Louis Rickett, a single shot back, who then took third place overall after a countback with Tristan Evans, who finished third on the day. However, none of them could catch Fraser Mackenzie, who held on by one stroke to take the Winter Cup title with rounds of 41 and 49.
11-12 Category
The boys division on Day 1 was claimed by Ronnie Groves who will undoubtedly be going all out to claim the OOM title this season, so he made a great start with a round of 81, three ahead of Bailee Taylor in second, and Issac Jones in third two shots further back, but nothing was guaranteed with a round to go.
Ronnie (84) made it a double victory and with it the Winter Cup Title, Maxi Moore took second place on Day 2 after a round of 86, but he couldn’t quite break into the Top 3, as Bailee fired an 88 on Day 2 to hold on for second overall, while Isaac (87) took third both on the day and overall.
Junior Open Category
The Net Division proved a good one to win, as the conditions meant playing to handicaps was extremely difficult, so Samuel Cox’s round of 70 was very impressive to take the top spot, ahead of Tilly O’Leary who showed that the girls were also up to the task two shots behind in second, edging in front of Oliver Brightman in third by virtue of another countback.
The Top 2 in the Girls Gross section were separated by a single shot, with Zoe Mclean-Tattan coming out in front of Tilly O’Leary after rounds of 92 and 93, respectively.
The Boys Gross division saw Freddy Dortmans claim the first top points of the season with a round of 80, just a single shot ahead of three players on 81, with the countback putting Henry Brogan in second, Micah Blowers in third, and Theo Morris fourth, meaning every division had everything to play for on Day 2.
The Net Division on Day 2 was again headed by Samuel Cox after a second consistent round, this time of 73, but only after a countback, meaning that he deservedly took the overall title with a total of 143, ahead of Oliver Brightman who claimed both second on the day and overall by two shots, with Gavin Ingram coming home in third on the day and over all after rounds of 77 and 74.
The Girls Gross Division was dominated by Zoe McLean-Tattan, as she took the second day winner’s medal, although only after a countback after matching Maisie O’Shea’s 90, and with it the Winter Cup title, with Maisie overtaking Tilly to claim second overall.
The Boys Gross section was incredibly close, as Henry made it two wins over the two days, but again only after a countback, as he and Gavin Ingram fired matching 79s in the difficult conditions. This also moved them into the Top 2 positions overall, as Henry (81, 79) took the title by a single shot from Gavin (82, 79), with Freddie Dortmans taking third, as his second round of 83 dropped him below Henry and Gavin.
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