North of England U-16s turns into duel between Surrey youngsters
Surrey junior James Brash swept to North of England U-16s Stroke Play glory at Heswall on the back of a storming finish last night.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The Foxhills player, who won the North of England U-14s last year, chased down his county team-mate Kris Kim (Walton Heath) in brilliant fashion, birdieing three of his last four holes to win by two shots.
Brash started the final round on The Wirral five back and knew something special was required to give himself a chance. He certainly delivered that. His closing, bogey-free 66 (-6) was his lowest competition effort, eclipsing the three under he managed at the Sir Henry Cooper Masters in June when he finished fourth.
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And an exchange with an official on the 15th tee gave him the impetus he needed down the stretch.
“After I birdied the 12th to get three under I thought it could become a really good round because there were some birdie holes coming in,” said the 15-year-old.
“Then on the 15th tee I was told I ‘was close’ and that spurred me on. Kris was in the group ahead and he looked pretty happy.”
Kim, who won the England U-14s last year, would close with a 73 but the new champion was unaware he had overhauled the Walton Heath ace until walking off the final green.
“It was quite unexpected,” added Brash. “Because I was five back I went pin seeking and just tried to play my game. Thankfully I holed a few putts coming in.”
Brash, who opened up with a bogey-free 70 having hit 16 greens in regulation, had to wait until the sixth to regsiter his first birdie. A seven iron to three feet was just the tonic.
At the eighth he rolled in a 12-footer and then missed a golden opportunity at the next having pinged his approach to five feet.
At the par five 12th he was just short in two and got up and down before saving himself in impressive fashion at the next. Having just missed the putting surface in two, he chipped off the green, shortsiding himself but recovered in spectacular style by holing out for par.
After being given a hint he was close, Brash hit top gear. At 15 he stuck an eight iron to feet and then holed out from 10 feet for a crucial par at the par three 16th.
He then finished with two birdies. First up he reached the par five in two and lagged his 20-foot eagle attempt to ensure a tap-in four and then, at the short par four closing hole, resisted the temptation to go for the green in one. A six iron off the tee gave him an ideal number for his wedge (125) and he knocked it to 15 feet before draining the uphiller to get to six under for the tournament.
Just four back was local favourite Cole Self (Ringway), who carried off the U-14s prize.
In the girls’ events, Switzerland’s Maria Hersperger finished two clear of Norfolk’s Chloe Tarbard (Royal Norwich) to claim the U-16s title while Emily Peaford (Walton Heath) won the U-14s, one shot ahead of England U-14s champion Charlotte Naughton (Ponteland).