Pros advice

Qualifiers from all over the UK & Ireland gathered at Gainsborough Golf Club, home to tournament sponsor PING, for the 2018 American Golf Junior Championship final yesterday.

With the competition fierce and the sportsmanship on show admirable, defending champion Aaron Mohun from Chester took the overall title with Amy Buchan from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Leah Ribano from Northampton, Fraser Russell from Troon, Ruaridh Clubb from Gifford, Hayden Sarfo from Droitwich and Owen Williams from Penarth, taking the honours in their respective categories.

Back to defend his 2017 title, 11-year-old Aaron Mohun from Chester didn’t miss a beat as he took the overall American Golf Junior Championship title scoring 46 stableford points to top the overall leader board as well as the Boys’ Handicap category.

Winner in the Girls Nett competition was Close House member Amy Buchan from Newcastle Upon Tyne. She played a fantastic round to record 39 points off a handicap of 11, narrowly edging out Jessica Brown from the Shire London.

Round of the day went to Leah Ribano as she took the title in the Girls’ Gross competition. 14-year-old Leah from Northampton went round in an incredible 3 over par, playing off 6. After taking in the magnitude of her achievement she said: “I feel amazing, I’ve played for the past two years now and haven’t done too well but I’ve come back again and won the trophy! I did miss a couple of putts but I did play well.”

The winner in the Boys Gross competition was Fraser Russell from Troon. Fraser scored an impressive 8 over, beating several boys with lower handicaps than his 7. Having taken the title by one shot, the birdies he hit on 15 and 17 sealed victory.

2018 saw an incredible standard of golf across the Future Star categories which are played without handicap over a 9 hole shortened course. Taking the under-8 title was Hayden Sarfo. Hayden played an incredible round to complete his 9 holes in 5 under par. Hot on his heels in the 9 and over category was Owen Williams from Penarth who played fantastic golf to come in at 3 under. In the final category, Ruaridh Clubb from Gifford Golf Club came out on top in the Upper Nett competition, the high handicap category that was new for 2018. He recorded 35 points from off 34 to take the title.

John Clark, Managing Director of tournament sponsor PING Europe, said: “ Both PING and American Golf have a long-standing commitment to developing the next generation of golfers and, having seen the quality of play and the high-class sportsmanship on display today, I think the game of golf has a strong future.”

Matt Bacon, Head of Events at American Golf added: “It’s so satisfying to see new faces alongside young golfers who have returned to qualifiers year after year. For American Golf and PING to have been such an important part in the progression of so many young golfers makes me incredibly proud. To make it through to the final from hundreds of entrants from all over the U.K. & Ireland is a fantastic achievement and every one of the participants today has been a credit to themselves, their golf club and their family.”