Suffolk’s Tyler Weaver returned to winning ways in stunning fashion as he completed a wire-to-wire victory in the English Boys at Moor Park Golf Club.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The Bury St Edmunds golfer closed with a superb final round of 68 to add to previous scores of 68, 69 and 67 to finish on -16 for the championship and win by five shots from Italy’s Giorgio Celani.
Celani’s runner-up status in Hertfordshire came courtesy of a mesmerising final round of 63 (-9) which included nine birdies and a fabulous eagle at the 485 yard, par-five fifth, much to the delight of his Italian teammates.
Netherlands’ Loran Appel finished third on nine under while Golf at Goodwood’s Drew Sykes was next best, just a shot behind at Moor Park, which held the event every year between its launch in 1935 and 1987.
But all the plaudits deservedly went to the Weaver, who last year won the English U-18s Mixed and the Lagonda Trophy. This year he has managed a number of solid efforts without challenging but finally showed his class, joining the likes of Sandy Lyle, Ken Brown and Justin Rose in getting his hands on the illustrious Carris Trophy.
He told England Golf: “I’m really happy with my week. I was definitely comfortable this morning because I knew I was playing good golf and I just wanted to get out there and get going.
“You need to pay attention to other scores coming in from around the course so you know what you’re doing but obviously it was a little bit easier to keep an eye on what my playing partner Loran was doing!
“The course here at Moor Park has been in great condition, the greens were rolling really well and it was nice to play a course in such superb condition.
“It was nice to have loads of my England teammates there supporting me at the end, as well as my parents, so I really can’t thank them all enough. It has been a great week!”
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Going into the final round, Weaver was two shots clear of Appel and the pair were presented with excellent conditions for golf on the final day with little to no wind and the typical English summer rainfall having drifted away.
Weaver started out in consistent form, as his brand of faultless golf saw him make par on the first eight holes before an impressive birdie on the ninth helped him make the turn in 36 shots.
Appel wasn’t going away though and he remained just two shots behind following the front nine but the first four holes of the sprint for home saw Weaver apply real pressure and, ultimately, clinch the title.
Birdies at the par-three 10th and the par-five 13th for Weaver, combined with dropped shots at 12 and 13 for the Dutchman, meant the overnight leader had stretched his advantage but stirrings were being made elsewhere on the course.
A few groups in front of the leaders, Celani had posted an incredible final round of 63 (-9) to put himself into the clubhouse lead thanks to a masterful display of stunning drives and excellent putts.
That pressure from the Italian meant Weaver was kept honest and, despite dropping a shot at 15, he bounced back brilliantly to make birdies at 16 and 17 to secure victory.
Weaver was also part of the England team that won the Nations Cup at the championship. He teamed up with Sam Easterbrook (Olton) and Sussex’s Harry Malin to claim that prize ahead of The Netherlands.
The Hazards Salver for the top U-16s boy from GB&I was won by Colne Valley’s Charlie Rusbridge (-1).
Next year’s Carris Trophy will take place at Ormskirk Golf Club in Lancashire (July 23-26).