South West U-18s Open turns into a process for Somerset junior
There was a textbook display of front-running from Somerset’s Freddie Turnell as he won the South West U-18s Open at Burnham & Berrow by ten shots last night.
FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play
Home advantage certainly helped as he hit 33 of 36 greens yesterday and gradually eased away from the pack. After two rounds his lead was four and another under-par effort (70) saw his close on five under while his nearest challengers – Ellis Bright (Cumberwell Park) and Cameron Young (Salisbury & South Wilts) – both finished on five over.
For Turnell, who started the season well – he finished a highly creditable 15th at the West of England Stroke Play in April – it was a welcome return to top form after some indifferent displays in the major events.
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“It was good,” said the 17-year-old, who finished second in the event last year after losing to Castle Royle’s Ben McFadden in a play-off.
“I hit a lot of good iron shots and, once I had a good lead, just tried to keep it steady and hit the middle of the green. It would have been nice to hole a few more putts.”
Turnell, who also finished fifth at the inaugural England U-25s, had just three bogeys across the three rounds and his one major aberration came early at the par five fourth on day one. He took four to get down from 30 yards but by then was already two under.
The Somerset ace holed a 25-footer at the first to make the perfect start and then knocked it in tight at the third to set up his second birdie of the day.
He was would have to wait until the 17th for his next but his opening 69 gave him a share of the first-round lead. Two eagles from West Hove’s Morton Bailey helped him get into early contention.
Unfortunately for the Sussex junior at nine at the fourth derailed his challenge while Turnell posted another 69. His only bogey of the day came at the first while he again birdied three and took advantage of the par fives (four and 13), finding the green in two on both occasions and securing two-putt birdies to get to four under overall.
Young’s superb 67 – it would be the lowest round of the tournament – saw him shoot up to second but the Wiltshire teenager could not maintain that pace after lunch and he would close with a 76.
Meanwhile Turnell was staying supremely patient. A bogey at the second was cancelled out by a birdie at eight and then he stuck his approach to two feet at the tenth to get under par.
Thereafter he parred in although came agonisingly close to further birdies at 14 and 16 while Bright’s final-round 71 gave him a share of second.