“TEAM USA” WINS OAK PARK’S JUNIOR ‘RYDER CUP’

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FARNHAM, SURREY – Sixteen young golfers experienced a nerve-jangling Halloween golfing weekend, when Oak Park Golf Club held its second annual ‘Ryder Cup’ style junior golf event.

And a youthful “Team USA” took the spoils in Surrey, avenging last month’s grown-up European triumph at Celtic Manor with victory by 11½ points to 8½ points.

The Junior ‘Ryder Cup’, sponsored by TaylorMade-adidas, was the latest initiative from Oak Park GC’s Crown Golf Academy, which is headed by Mackenzie Award-winning PGA Head Coach Gavin Grenville-Wood, who was recognised by the national Golf Foundation for his work with junior golfers earlier this year.

The sixteen finalists, boys and girls aged between 8 and 17, had been chosen from an original 120 entries, and had played their way through to the event during a series of qualifying tournaments. Divided by lots into two teams – “Team Europe” and “Team USA” – the youngsters had a taste of what it is like to play in the real thing, with each team coached by a Captain, with colour-coordinated team outfits provided by adidas, and with the event adhering as closely as possible to the authentic Ryder Cup format throughout the weekend.

After a practice day on Friday 29th October, the two teams assembled for the first day’s Foursomes and Fourballs on Saturday 30th October. Sky Sports TV cameras added to the excitement and drama, with many competitors arriving after a sleepless night due to the nerves.

At the end of Day 1, “Team USA” – captained by the club’s Crown Golf Academy PGA Coach, Paul Mayoh – led by 5 points to 3 as dusk fell on Saturday evening.

Under pressure to do something special on Day 2, “Team Europe” fought hard to secure a 2-2 draw in Sunday morning’s Fourballs, leaving “Team USA” ahead by 7-5 going into Sunday afternoon’s all-important Singles matches.

As tension built throughout the afternoon, almost all matches lasted until the final hole, but sadly for the Europeans “Team USA” once again proved too strong, and with a narrow 4½ - 3½ afternoon victory in the Singles, the eight jubilant youngsters waving the Stars and Stripes took the trophy.

Event organiser Gavin Grenville-Wood, said: “As coach for “Team Europe”, I was rooting for my own team to win of course, but to be honest the standard of play was so high across the board, that I spent the weekend feeling enormously proud of all of our competitors!

“The children played under an extreme amount of pressure, as it is rare for them to play as part of a team, and they all kept amazingly calm and focussed. The camaraderie which built up between the team members over the weekend was fantastic to see, and one thing that will stay in my memory is 8 year old Grace Atherton partnering the very tall 17 year old Tom Jordan in two matches. They both played brilliantly, and brought out the best in each other. It was a real joy to behold.”

Graham Farr, whose son Nick played for “Team Europe”, said: “What a memorable weekend – all of the hard work which Gavin and his colleagues put into the event made it an experience our family will never forget. The standard of golf shows what a tremendous job they do in coaching children here at Oak Park GC.”

At the prize-giving ceremony the ‘Ryder Cup’ style trophy was awarded to “Team USA”, with five individual awards also given to children for special achievements during the weekend.

Young golfers 8-year-old Grace Atherton (“Team USA”) and 10-year-old Angus Milnes-James (“Team Europe”) won “Ryder Cup Spirit” Awards; 12-year-olds Tom Hutchings (“Team USA”) and Josh Grenville-Wood (“Team Europe”) won their teams’ “MVP (Most Valuable Player)” Awards; and the event’s “Overall Most Valuable Player” was 13-year-old Mark Pailing (“Team USA”), who will keep the main ‘Ryder Cup’ style trophy for the year.

Martin Skinner, General Manager at Oak Park GC, commented: “It was a phenomenal three days for our junior golfers, and they played brilliantly in varying weather conditions.

“We are tremendously proud of how they got on, as they all behaved like true young professionals both on and off the course. They all rose to the occasion, and many of them played far better than their handicaps in very tense, close-fought matches.

“Thanks must go to our Academy Pros, Gavin and Paul, who are an inspiration to our young golfers. They have not only taught them how to play the game, but also how to behave with decorum – even when the nerves and pressure take over!”

Gavin Grenville-Wood, Head PGA Coach, Oak Park Golf Club
07599 010645, oakpark-academy@crown-golf.co.uk

Claire Burns, Hiseman Limited
07738 207133, claire@hiseman.com