Welsh star Gracie Mayo equals lowest score as Millfield pupils dominate
ESGA: Friday, March 25th
FORMAT: 18-hole strokeplay
Welsh international Gracie Mayo matched her lowest competition score to take victory at the English Schools Golf Association (ESGA) Somerset qualifier at Weston Super Mare.
The 17-year-old Millfield pupil was playing in the event for the first having twice taken part in the Welsh equivalent. She moved to the renowned Somerset School at the start of year 12 having grown up just outside Cardiff.
At Weston Super Mare she turned in a long-game exhibition, hitting every green in regulation on her way to a three-under-par 69. That left her three clear of her international team-mate and school pal Harriet Lockley (Burnham & Berrow GC). Millfield pupils filled nine of the top ten places.
The duo have been selected for the Wales team that is entered in the European Nations Cup at the Real Club in Sotogrande next week. Most of Europe’s elite amateurs will gather in Spain for prestigious four-day individual/team event.
“It was definitely a big confidence booster, especially with the Nations Cup coming up soon,” said the Newport GC member.
“Wales haven’t entered a team in it for about five years so it will be great to play in that.”
Mayo birdied her final two holes (as she played them) to duck under 70. At the last she managed to lag a 60-foot eagle putt to around three feet and made no mistake for the four.
Earlier she drained one from 20 feet at the seventh, one of four birdies on her card. Another came quickly at the par five ninth where she pitched to inside four feet and converted the chance.
In the boys competition Freddie Turnell (Burnham & Berrow) won by two from his school mate Harry Scriven. They were two of nine Millfield School pupils in the top ten.
The raft of Millfield qualifiers will move on to the South West Final at Carlyon Bay in May where the top three boys/girls will reach the national final at Gog Magog on June 27th.