A sterling
performance from Bingley’s William Whiteoak ensured the Welsh Open Youths’
Championship left Wales for the ninth time in 12 years.
It was a stroll in the park for the West Country youngster, who
took the Monmouthshire course at Abergavenny apart with a brilliant weekend
exhibition to storm to an amazing nine-stroke victory.
His 72-hole total of 264 - 16 under par - included a sensational
62 in his third round, and dominant performances on the front nine throughout
the weekend.
William Whiteoak following his exceptional performance in South Wales.
Defending champion Nick Marsh of Huddersfield was second on
273, one stroke in front of Marlborough’s Ben Amor.
Home-grown golfer Owen Edwards snatched fifth place. Rounds
of 68, 70, 73 and 69 saw him finish on par with a gross 280, 16 strokes behind Whiteoak
and one ahead of Welsh Boys’ champion Henry James of Kidderminster.
It meant he picked up the Ben Enoch Memorial Award as the
highest-placed Welshman at the event, despite only returning to Wales from a
year out in Australia the previous weekend and having just one week to practice
after "barely playing" in the past five months.
Owen Edwards was the best performing Welshman at his home club.
The 21-year-old International Business student at Birmingham
University said: “I took a year out in Australia to gain some work experience
and I played a lot in the first five months, but then moved in with a friend and
as we didn't have a car I didn't really play.
“I had a month left on my visa but as this was my last
chance to play in the Welsh Youths and it was at my home club I decided to
compete. Obviously a week was enough practice time!”
His fourth round saw him eagle the par five eighth, but four
bogeys along the back nine threatened to bring a subdued finish to his weekend
before a brilliant eagle on the par five 18th saw Edwards finish on a high.
The Vale’s Ben Robinson was the next-best Welsh golfer behind James after
another fantastic final round score of 66. His gross 282 saw him secure eighth
spot on the leaderboard, with a competent back nine on his last circuit seeing
him finish well.
A four over par final round of 74 saw Otto Mand drop from
fourth to ninth in the leaderboard with a gross 284. A third round 67, with a
particularly impressive front nine, seemed to have thrown the Welsh
international in to the mix for the top positions, but he was not alone in
letting his performance slip at the death.
Fellow Gwent County star Julian Sansom couldn’t quite match
the 69 carded on both his second and third journeys around the course. The
Newport star’s fourth attempt may have seen him score a 73, but he rounded off
the Top 10 and will be pleased to have finished among the top positions.
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