Strong foreign invasion for The Reid Trophy

The English Boys Under 14 Stroke Play Championship for the Reid Trophy has been won by a non-English player on only three occasions. But there is a strong overseas challenge for this year’s event which takes place at Hesketh Golf Club, Southport, on 3rd – 5th August (picture © Tom Ward).

There are a total of 48 non-British players in a field of 111 particularly from Spain, who have 16 entries for this event which has previously been captured by boy caps Jonathan Bell and Oscar Sharpe and by full England international Eddie Pepperell.

The field also contains players from 11 other overseas countries including Barbados, Luxembourg and Singapore as well as from the Continent of Europe.

The Reid Trophy is always keenly contested over 54 holes and that will be the case again this year and some of those competing will eventually emerge as the golfing stars of tomorrow.

Among those competing is Marco Penge, the current Sussex Under 15 Champion from Worthing, as is Charlie Strickland from Rustington, the youngest player in the field at 11, who has been the Sussex Under 13 Champion for the past two years.

The field also contains two boys who did well in last year’s event at The Kendleshire, namely Hadyn McCullen from Didsbury who was joint sixth, and Scot Bradley Neil from Blairgowrie, who was equal ninth.

As usual, the field contains many of this country’s best emerging talent as well as youngsters from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There is also an Under 13 Championship with 25 players eligible.

The Reid Trophy was the brainchild of the late Malcolm Reid, a champion of junior golf, from Hertfordshire. He established the competition at Porters Park Golf Club in 1995 as a 36 hole tournament.

The championship was played at Porters Park until 2000 when it began its rotation of the four English golf regions. However, when it is the turn of the South East to host, it returns to its tradition home. It was at Porters Park in 2007 that the championship was extended to 54 holes.

The total number of entries received this year was 126, so a ballot was held and of the 17 players with handicaps of seven, two have gained entry. The remainder are on a reserve list.

The leading six players in the Championship will gain automatic exemption to next year’s McGregor Trophy (Under 16 Championship) at South Moor Golf Club in Durham.
 
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