VIDEO: Lee Westwood Junior Championship stars play the 18th in style

The 18th annual Lee Westwood Junior Championship saw 60 of the region’s golfers battle for top prizes and prestigious trophies.
Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Prize winners from the tournamentLee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Prize winners from the tournament
Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Prize winners from the tournament

And the class of 2015 did it in some style, with several very impressive scores recorded at Worksop Golf Club.

Golfers aged 11 to 18 flocked from all over Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire to Monday’s tournament, co-organised by the Worksop Guardian.

Brad Tomlinson took home the scratch trophy for the second time in three years, thanks to a stellar round of 71 gross, one under par.

Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Prize winners from the tournamentLee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Prize winners from the tournament
Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Prize winners from the tournament

Worksop Golf Club’s junior captain was just one shot better than good friend and fellow home golfer Callum Barlow.

Cameron Steedman of Mapperley took third place with a gross 77.

The stableford competition, contested by a bumper field of 43 youngsters, was won by Bondhay Golf Club’s Greg Melbourne.

He accrued a staggering 46 points, beating his nearest challenger – clubmate Oliver Kaye – by eight points.

Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Brad Tomlinson wins the Scratch TrophyLee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Brad Tomlinson wins the Scratch Trophy
Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Brad Tomlinson wins the Scratch Trophy

Mapperley’s Taran Hayer, playing off 20, took third place with 37 points.

In an encouraging sign for women’s golf in the region, eight junior girls entered the event.

Katie Robertson of Southwell was the pick of the bunch thanks to her 36 points, with Katie Leck of Ruddington just a point behind her.

The other Southwell Robertson, Charlotte, shot 33 points.

Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Greg Melbourne wins the Handicap TrophyLee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Greg Melbourne wins the Handicap Trophy
Lee Westwood Junior Championships 2015 at Worksop Golf Club. Greg Melbourne wins the Handicap Trophy

Eighteen golfers were awarded prizes, with long-time tournament sponsors PING providing golf bags, putters, umbrellas, towels, gloves and hats for the winners.

With Florida resident Lee Westwood sending his apologies, Worksop captain Roy Dexter presented the trophies and prizes.

He told the Guardian Worksop Golf Club were delighted with the 2015 event.

“The attendance is always good, but it’s particularly good to see golfers coming from as far away as Wortley.

“It’s testament to junior golf in Notts and Derbyshire that so many have travelled here to play.

“Lee Westwood came through the ranks of junior golf and without it the future stars wouldn’t have the opportunity to play on such good courses.”

“When Lee gives his name to a competition it gives the young golfers a rolemodel and something to aspire to.”

He lauded the club’s junior captain Tomlinson, who not only impressed with his golf on Monday, but his gracious ‘champion’s speech.’

“He’s been representing the club well as club captain.

“His handicap at the beginning of the year was one, and he wanted to get it down to scratch and he did that quite quickly.

“He’s looking forward to senior events now.

“Brad is a mature young man and that’s what golf produces, 18-year-olds who can stand up in front of 100 adults and give a speech without nerves.”

Tomlinson hopes his second Lee Westwood Junior Championship title will spur him on to more success in 2015.

“I’ve been playing good recently, I’m happy with one under par,” he said.

“It’s been a great year so far, I’m hoping to have a good finish.

“I’ve got a few England competitions and a few big events, so I’ll be quite busy towards the back end of the season.

“But I’m happy with my game, so it’s all positives.”

And stableford champion Melbourne was also understandably pleased with his day.

The 24-handicapper said: “I played well through all the holes.

“This is the first thing I’ve won.

“I saw it in the newspaper and thought I should enter, and really enjoyed it.”

Worksop Golf Club secretary manager Alan Mansbridge, one of the tournament organisers added: “Congratulations to our new champions, and all the juniors who turned out in great numbers.

“This is a big event for us at Worksop Golf Club and it’s great to see how popular it is with the juniors after 18 years.

“I thought it went very well.”

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