JUNIORTEAMDOUBLEHEADEROur Junior Team took their unbeaten start to the season to the sandy shores of South Shields in the first round of the Junior Knockout Cup and were in confident mood heading into the match.

Leah Davidson-Pullan played very well and was perhaps a little unlucky to lose her match after hitting some great shots. Unfortunately the final hole undone her as she lost 1 down.

The top match was a great battle of the junior stars as Zara Naughton (1) and former Heworth junior Ben Willis (3) took to the tee. Ben got off to the hot start getting one ahead early doors, but Zara is as cool as they come and calmly took control of the match before putting on a masterclass to romp home with a stunning 5&4 victory.Nathan out at No.4 had one of those days where he was in complete control from the get go. Racing into a lead from the outset he spent the round creeping further and further ahead before his opponent simply ran out of holes and had no answers to Nate’s dominance. A very impressive 7&5 win and a day to forget for his out of sorts opponent.Last match out was Junior Captain Callum Fay, who was always in the match as there was never more than a hole in it throughout. As the other games were finishing it became evident that a half point from his match would be enough to secure a win for his team. Unfortunately at 1 down Callum had to take a few chances to grind out the half he needed. Unluckily for Callum it wasn’t to be as his opponent seized the momentum as Callum took chances and closed the match out on the 17th green 2&1.As the match had to be settled on the day it was left to Charlotte, who’d earlier halved her match, to play the sudden death play off for her team. With her team mates, parents and spectators willing her on she hit a beautiful tee shot on the first that just eased off the side of the green leaving a tricky downhill chip with her opponent 25ft away. Charlotte hit a wonderfully delicate chip that was tracking to the hole, shaving the cup and rolling down the slope to around 12ft away. With her opponent down for 3 Charlotte had to hole out to extend the match. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be as her putt agonisingly stayed on the lip meaning it was South Shields who advance to round 2.Well done to all, and good luck to South Shield in Round 2.

Next up was Charlotte Naughton, playing well and hitting some great shots to ensure she was always in contention. The match ebbed and flowed before a great duel finished all square.

CharlotteNaughton(6)HaydonMustard(11)HarryHedley(19)JasmineLee(20)RoryMustard(24)Lost3&2Won4&3Won1upWon1upWon5&4

v BoldonGolfClubFriendlyMatchHometoBoldon(Thurs23rdJuly)ZaraNaughton(1)CharlotteNaughton(6)LeahDavidson-Pullan(13)NathanBuchanan(19)CallumFay(25)Won5&4HalvedLost1downWon7&5Lost2&1

JuniorKnockoutCupAwaytoSouthShields(Sun19thJuly)Heworthwin4-12.5-2.5(SSGCwinsuddendeathplayoff)

It was a great way to bounce back as the squad made strong claims for a spot in the team for the next match!Well played everyone! It’s been a busy week for you all and you’re representing the club in such a brilliant way.

Haydon Mustard was itching to get going and came out of the blocks like a rocket as his putter warmed quick as he built a 3up lead through 10 holes. Never really looking troubled he played well within himself to record a routine 4&3 win to square the match at 1-1.Harry Hedley was out at 3 and enjoyed a very close match. Every time a hole was won by either player the other would come back and win the next one to make sure there was never more than one hole in it. Thankfully for Haydon the holes ran out on the 18th as he recorded the win 1up.It was a similar story for Jas as she too had to dig in during a very close match but managed to forge a 2 up lead heading to the 17th. A nervy finish awaited however as her opponent took that very hole and forced the pair to play the final hole, which they duly halved giving Jas a 1up victory.With the match now secured it was Rory Mustard out at No.5 who produced the performance of the night (or at least in scoreboard terms) as he eased to a brilliant 5&4 victory. Rory played some of the golf of his life, hit quality shot after quality shot en route to a comfortable win.

A much changed team from recent weeks as Junior Captain Callum Fay rotated his squad to give more of our junior golfers matchplay experience, even giving himself a rest!Charlotte went out as No.1 and relished the opportunity of being team figurehead as she played with great composure in producing some brilliant shot making throughout her round. Unfortunately she came up against a solid and very big hitting opponent this evening with a little more experience as she went down to a 3&2 defeat.

Thanks too to Boldon, not their night but a great contest and we wish them luck in the remainder of their matches too!

The Juniors put the disappointment of their knockout defeat firmly behind them on a cool and damp night as they took on Boldon in their latest friendly match.

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