Junior report 15th September 2008:

Blackmoor Shield:

Our semi final opponents were Guildford G C, and the match was hastily arranged due to impending holidays. We entertained them on Sunday 27h July, squeezed between a home mixed match.

Gladly we were victorious, winning by the odd match 3 -2, and took our place on Finals day at Blackmoor, where we were to play against last years runners up Bramshaw.

Finals day was 5 eighteen hole matchplay matches in the morning, followed by another five in the afternoon. If the sides were even at the end the final pair played sudden death until a winner emerged.

Played in damp conditions, on a course made longer by recent rainfall, it was a testimony on how far the team had matured during the competition. Blackmoor is a tough test of golf, and the opening tee shot has out of bounds all the way down the right and a ditch across the fairway. Having never experienced a finals day before, nerves got the better of our team, with many of our tee shots flirted with the out of bounds, and at least three matches lost the first hole.

Gladly the team of Matthew Selley, Jonathan Fleet, Russell Smith, John Drake Jnr and Scott Dicks, settled their nerves and produced a wonderful display of shot making, and at lunch we lead 5-0 a whitewash. This meant just one win in the afternoon would win the trophy, but Bramshaw had nothing to lose. By the seventh hole in the afternoon we were down in 4 matches and level in one, nerves were beginning to show, if not with the players definitely the supporters and organiser.

However after the turn, our fortunes changed, this was down to inspired play and some wayward driving from the Bramshaw team. Matthew in the top match notched a 4 & 3 win to win the trophy. The final result was 7 – 2 to Bishopswood, a fantastic achievement, and one of which we as a club can be proud of.

League News:

We finished our league season with a win away to Test Valley by 4 games to 2, and with a draw against Weybrook Park at home 3-3, we finished with 8 points from our 8 games, finishing mid table.

Congratulations to Scott Dicks on being Bishopswood Junior League player of the year, scoring 18 points from his 6 matches, and remaining undefeated in the league.

In all 14 boys represented the Club during the season, the most we have used in any one year. My thanks go to all of them, however a special mention for the following who move leave the junior ranks having reached 18 years of age: -

Andrew Merritt, Russell Smith and Jonathan Fleet, best of luck in the future and your support over the last 6 years has been appreciated.

Finally but not least, congratulations to John Drake Junior, who through winning the Hall of Fame medal in May with a net 60, qualified for the National finals which were played at Woodhall Spa the home of English golf. John was the youngest player in a field of 80.

Playing a very tough course, John had a practise round on Friday with 36 holes played over Saturday and Sunday. John finished mid table, and gained valuable experience which can be put to good use in the future.

You would have thought he would have been tired after the exertions, travelling back from Lincolnshire, but the following morning it was the Blackmoor shield final. Travelling from 6.30, another 36 holes, but two wins showed John’s strength, character, and determination to succeed.

---

Junior report 7th July 2008

Whale Shield:

Congratulations to Scott Dicks winner of the above competition with a stableford score of 43 points. Winner of the scratch competition was Russell Smith.

Scott’s handicap was reduced by two as a result, yet it did not stop him winning the Handicap Championship the following week, with net scores of 71 and 62 = 133 winning by 6 shots.

A further 3 shot reduction to handicap was the result and Scott is now a credible 16 handicapper.

Blackmoor Shield:

On Sunday 6th July we hosted Rowlands Castle in the quarter finals, the afternoon was extremely wet, and at one stage the game was suspended due to a threat of lightening. Nevertheless we progressed to the semi-final with a resounding 5-0 victory. We now await details of our semi-final opponents and venue. The victorious team was Jonathan Fleet, Russell Smith, John Drake Jnr, Dominic Luckman and Scott Dicks.

---

Junior report June 19th 2008

We have played league games against Newbury Racecourse, The Hampshire and Andover in recent weeks, drawing 3-3 at Newbury, The Hampshire 5-1 and Andover 3 ½ to 2 ½.

Our draw at Newbury was even more credible as at noon on the Saturday, only three boys were available after illness and sudden unavailability. Scott Addyman and Kieran Maylen were drafted in at the last moment, and we won 3 games out of the five to achieve a very good draw against last years league winners.

I was extremely grateful to Kieran, Scott, Matthew Goodenough and Scott Dicks who all made their league debuts, and performing so well on the day.

On Monday 9th June we entertained the Army juniors in the Blackmoor Shield, and the game ended 2 ½ each, sudden death was required to reach a result, and Jonathan Fleet won on the first extra hole to put us through. Our next game is against Rowlands Castle at home on Sunday 6th July at 2.30.

---

Junior report: 30th May 2008

The season is now under way, and it is congratulations to Matthew Goodenough who won the April medal with a net score of 61, and as a result has seen his playing handicap reduced from 34 to 26.

We started our league campaign with a home game against Donnington Valley, whilst we had high hopes of victory, a half in the last match saw us defeated 3½ to 2½. Well done to Jonathan Fleet and Russell Smith on their wins and John Drake junior on his half.

Our next match is 4th May away to Hartley Wintney. Only six players have indicated availability so far for the two matches, however they are open to all juniors with handicaps of 28 boys and 36 girls. The current six will be depleted by three at the end of the year due to age constraints; therefore this is an opportunity for those emerging players to get involved.

Our venture in the County Greenjackets was short-lived, when we lost narrowly away at Alresford 2 matches to 1. The final defeat was down to a gross birdie on the last by the home player.

Finally we have a home match in the Blackmoor Shield against the Army Golf Club, date still to be agreed.

---

---

Junior News: updated 18th September 2007

League results:

On Sunday 16th we completed our league programme with a convincing win over Dummer 5-1, I would like to congratulate all members of the team and reserves who have contributed throughout the season. We finished in 7th place out of 11 teams. Jonathan Fleet winning 7 of his ten matches is our junior league player of the year.

This Sunday 23rd Bishopswood will host the League’s end of season competition and presentation day.

The Season:

There has been some encouraging golf played this year, with many of the established juniors reducing their handicaps, and featuring in many competitions.

John Drake Junior qualifying at 12 years of age for next years Scratch championship, (81 gross score qualification) being the highlight. John has reduced his handicap this year to 16. I would expect him to be below his age next year, if he continues current progress.

Jonathan Fleet achieved category 1 status, 5 handicap, which is an improvement of 6 shots over the year. Matt Selley achieved single figures and played well in representing the Club against the County Juniors. Matt was called in at the last minute when one of the originally selected team members was unable to play.

Dan Chappell 10, Russell Smith 11, and Andrew Merritt 13 have all reduced their handicaps this year. Well done to you all.

Coaching:

Further coaching will be available over the winter months, a notice will shortly be placed on the junior board, and those interested please enter your name, and indicate which of the available evenings is best for you.

It is our intention to hold an informal evening of discussion around rules and etiquette, with a quiz where prizes will be awarded to the winners. All Juniors are asked to attend this evening, details to be supplied in due course.

---

Junior News: updated June 25th 2007

League results:

Since the last report, we have played three further matches, losing to Newbury Racecourse at home by 3 ½ - 2 ½, winners for Bishopswood being Daniel Chappell and Russell Smith, with Andrew Merritt halving his match. Against Hartley Wintney at home the match was all square at 3 wins each, winners for Bishopswood were Jonathan Fleet, Matt Selley and Russell Smith. Yesterday away at Basingstoke, we were defeated 4 –2, Russell Smith winning his third consecutive match, Andrew Merritt also won. We hold 10th place in the league, in what so far is the most open competition in years, all teams having lost at least one game. Our next match is away to Donnington Valley on the 1st July, which will be followed by home matches against Test Valley (7th July) and Tylney Park (14th July).

Whale Shield:

This year’s competition was a very tight affair, with many players bettering handicap in this stableford competition. The gross winner was Jonathan Fleet with 34 points (net 41), a result, which reduced his playing, handicap to 6. The net winner was Chris Martin with 42 points, this being attained off the maximum handicap of 28. Chris scored 48 points from his official club handicap, which saw a reduction in his playing handicap to 25. The best non handicapped player was Darren Carr with 33 points. The Club would like to thank Graham Smith for his continued sponsorship of this event.

Club Handicap Championship 23rd June

Some excellent performances from the juniors in the handicap this year, with the following being under par after the morning round: -

Dan Chappell	68
Russell Smith	69
Andrew Merritt	70
John Drake Junior	70
Jonathan Fleet	70
Jack Mackinnon	70

The afternoon proved a little tougher, but Russell finished third after a second 69, Dan 4th after a 71, and Jonathan equal 6th after a 71.

---

News 07/05/07:

The league team defeated The Hampshire 4-2 in their latest match. Congratulations to the team of Jonathan Fleet, Matthew Selley, Daniel Chappell, Andrew Merritt, Tom Monger and John Drake Junior.
Winners were Jonathan, Daniel and Tom who was playing in his first match for the Club, with Andrew and John halving their games. Next fixture is against Dummer on Sunday 13th May.

Junior Knock-out

The entry sheet for this competition is on the board; it is open to all juniors with handicaps, both Congu and Club. Those juniors with Club handicaps will play off a maximum Congu handicap, which is a maximum handicap of 28 for Boys and 36 for Girls.
The event is a match play competition with full handicap differential. Therefore a junior boy with a Club handicap of 30 draws a 12 handicapper, shots are as follows: -

Club handicap reduced to 28 being Congu maximum, 28 – 12 = 16, therefore shots will be given against the first 16 stroke index holes.

A junior girl of 40, draws a 20 handicapper, shots are as follows: -

Club handicap reduced to 36 being Congu maximum, two differential shots then added due to standard scratch differential, therefore the junior girl plays off 38 – 20 = 18, therefore one shot per hole.

---

Previous News:

The Juniors have played two matches in the league, losing 5-1 away to Weybrook Park, and 4-2 away to Andover. Not the best of starts, but congratulations to Jonathan Fleet, who has won both of his matches, and to Matthew Selley on gaining his first win of the campaign at Andover. Our next match is away to The Hampshire on the 6th May.

Jonathan Fleet our Junior Captain and our Junior Organiser finished third in the opening meeting of the league representatives, played in sunny conditions at Dummer they scored a net 67 losing by one shot. The triple bogey 8 at the last was very costly.

Hayling Family Greensomes:

Our Club Captain John Drake, Graham Smith and Kevin Fleet played with their sons in this annual event at Hayling. Very benign conditions saw scoring very high; leaders after the morning with 48 points were a local pairing. All enjoyed the day, with Jonathan Fleet and his father finishing best of the Bishopswood pairings, finishing the day 7 under handicap, and in joint 5th place just outside the prizes.

Junior rollups:

Simon Vince won the Easter rollup with an impressive 49 points, this was playing off his new handicap of 40. As a result, Simon has been cut further to 32. Well done to Simon on this.

Handicaps:

The following juniors have gained their first handicaps: -