The Junior Championship​

ERUGC Junior Championship
Thursday 7th August, 2025
Hull Golf Club

In 100 years of golf played at Kirk Ella, rarely can there have been a more thrilling finish to an event as the 2025 East Riding Junior Championship was decided by six holes of play off drama.

Hull’s George Pepper eventually prevailed over Ganton’s Ewan Mackenzie in front of a large crowd after a long day for players and officials alike.

As someone once said, let’s start at the very beginning, as it’s a very good place to start!

A healthy entry of 48 of the area’s best juniors gathered at Hull Golf Club for this year’s championship with the players going out from 7.30am in roughly reverse order of handicap. Many of the East Riding Junior Team were there hoping to lift the T.R. Leak Trophy, with the final group of Ganton’s Ewan Mackenzie and Hornsea’s Seth Topham as many people’s favourites for the title.

Ewan’s morning was not the round he was expecting and stuggled with a lot of pulls off the tee, but got it round in 78. Seth was not on his game and limped to lunch with an uncharacteristc 85.

The third member of the final group however, Max Walker of Brough, came out of the blocks with a stunning start and was 3 under through five holes around Hull’s notoriously tough start. He even lipped out for birdie at the 6th! He dropped shots around the turn, but held it together for a fantastic 74 to lead at halfway from Pepper’s solid 75. No one else broke 80, as the slick and subtle greens caught many a youngster out.

So to the afternoon and Max felt pressure immediately as Ewan birdied the 1st against his bogey. A triple at the second and Max’s lead had been wiped out, but in the group ahead, George was clocking up the pars. Max eventually carded a gutsy 81, to finish third overall. Ewan was ruing a strange choice of driver at the 7th which cost him a double bogey and then surprisingly dropped a shot at the par 5 12th which was playing very short for the long bombers.

A wedge at 13 perked him up a bit which pitched 6 feet past the flag and spun back into the hole! Nothing like an ace to tidy up a card! Pars at the next four holes gave Ewan a sniff, but no-one knew how George was faring in the group ahead. Another 75 was the answer and George waitied behind the 18th green with many of the other players and parents hoping that Ewan couldn’t match his 150 total.

As it turned out, Ewan was 11 over the day standing on the last tee. A birdie required to tie….

Another big pull actually wasn’t a problem, as it left the Yorkshire Boys regular only a 50 degree wedge from the middle of the 1st fairway. A back left pin was the only real difficulty. Ewan went for the flag, but his approach kicked over the back left of the green leaving a very tricky chip. No problem – chop its legs off, bounce, bounce, check, roll…straight into the cup.

Playoff time!

A three hole aggregate loop was decreed over holes 1, 4 and 5. Spectators followed the two gladiators up the first fairway in the setting sun  (pictured below) and were treated to an hour’s golf which wouldn’t have been out of place on the PGA Tour. George thought he had it won a couple of times only for Ewan to drive into the right greenside bunker at the downwind 5th and escape from the sand to 3 feet and nervelessly holing out to take us to sudden death over the same holes in order.

It was now the turn of Pepper to summon up his touch around the greens with a miraculous up and down for par at the 1st, leaving Mackenzie to once again show some nerve by holing from 4 feet to keep us going in front of around 50 spectators and officials. Both parred the 4th, before we finally found a winner at the 5th.

Both players bombed drivers again at the downwind par 4, with Ewan holding the advantage in the right semi 30 yards short of the green, whilst George looked in a bit of difficulty at the end of the left tree line. A lob wedge from under one tree and over another landed over the left bunker perfectly and released down the quick green and settled 8 inches behind the hole. Ewan could only manage a four and Hull’s home grown Pepper tapped in for the title (pictured below).

Phew!

ERUGC President Dave Greenwood presented the trophy to George in front off Hull’s magnificent clubhouse to round off a terrific day’s play.

The nett competition was won by another Hull youngster Callum Akester. He and Charlie Simpson both shot impressive 65s in the morning, before Callum followed it up with a nett 66 to pull clear. Charlie was runner-up with his 4 under 136 total.

A big thanks to all at Hull Golf Club for presenting the course in such wonderful condition and to the clubhouse staff for looking after everyone so warmly. To starter Andy Pittaway (and an hour of Edward Clark) for getting everyone away on time and then to Ian Jeffrey for organising the whole day and processing the results and to ERUGC Secretary John Illingwoth for manning the desk from 7am to 7pm – another titanic effort from these two!

A long day for all, but truly memorable given the high standard of golf in an epic play-off. And the headline and report hasn’t even mentioned ‘Red Hot Pepper’!

Easr Riding Junior Championship

A dry breezy day greeted the competitors for the 2024 East Riding Junior Championship at Hainsworth Park GC which was in fine condition. 

37 Juniors entered on the day, 25 for the 36 hole Junior Championship.

Play started at 8am and the mature trees soon took their toll on many slightly wayward shots.

Leading after the first round was a 6 over par 77 for Seth Topham (Hornsea), who held on after a flying start with birdies at 3 of the first 4 holes. This was followed closely by Tom Adcock (Cave Castle) and Harry Mukerjea (Ganton) 79 , Tom Hinks (Hull) 80, Bobby Beasley (Hull) 81, Ethan Matthews (Burstwick) 82 and Jack Wall (Cave Castle) 83.

A thought for contender Charles Wright (Ganton GC) who mistakenly signed for a wrong score on the first hole, realised over lunch it was wrong and returned to the desk to rectify to a 78 which saw him unfortunately disqualified. Charles took it on the chin and went out to shoot 74 in the afternoon. A great response.

The other scores throughout the field generally improved for the 2nd round, but Seth’s excellent level par 71, with 3 birdies and 3 bogies, saw him home comfortably on a total of 148. Other notable scores in the afternoon were Oliver Spencer (Cottingham) 78 and Ethan Matthews, George Pepper (Hull), Freddie Moore (Hainsworth Park) Thomas Adcock and Harry Mukerjea all with 79

Congratulations to Seth Topham of Hornsea GC on a great win!!

Second in the gross event was Tom Adcock of Cave Castle GC with 79 & 79, just edging out Harry Mukerjea (Ganton) on countback (Bk6) both with a 158 total.

Junior Champion  – Gross

The nett event trophy was won by Jack Wall of Cave Castle Golf club. Jack receiving 17 shots followed the morning’s 68 with a 64 for a 10 under total of 132. In second place was Elliot McLaughlin of Cottingham Parks GC with a 4 under total of 138 just edgng out Tom Hinks (Hull) on countback.

Junior Champion – Nett

The top 16 players qualify for the Junior Match play competition on Friday 16th August. All players have been notified, so please meet 9.00am at Hull Golf Club. 

The trophies were presented by ERUGC 2024 President Jonty Hall who thanked all the greenstaff for presenting the course in excellent condition, the club staff and members at Hainsworth Park GC for their hospitality on the day. 

Thanks again to Edward & Eileen Clark for manning the desk for a 10 hour shift, Andy Pittaway our starter, John Illingworth, Mike Dawson and Sunil Mukerjea and the parents who helped throughout the day.

Please keep an eye on the www.erugc.co.uk website for the 2025 fixtures which will be appearing shortly.

Full results for this event can be found on the East Riding Howdidido page.

Dave Greenwood
Competition Secretary

Summer finally arrived for the 2023 East Riding Junior Championship at Cottingham Parks GC which was in great condition. 

41 Juniors entered for the day, the majority for the 36 hole Junior Championship.

Play started at 8am and it looked to be a hot calm day with the chance to shoot low scores.

Highlights of the first round were a excellent one over par 73 for Amy Staveley (Ganton GC), followed closely by Warren Burns 74, Callum Burns and Ewan Mackenzie both 75, (all from Cottingham Parks GC) . Luke Townhill (Ganton GC ), with a 76 was the only other player in the field to break 80 and this group were the contenders going into the afternoon round.

Although scores throughout the field generally improved for the 2nd round only Amy and Callum improved on their morning card. Luke & Warren fell away with 82’s and Ewan a 77.

Callum’s 73, with 6 birdies, was not enough to catch Amy who shot the best round of the day with a two under 70, which included 5 birdies and an eagle on the 10th.

Congratulatons Amy who adds the East Riding Junior Championship to the Yorkshire Girls title she won in July.

Although 2nd in the gross event Callums two scores were enough to see him win the nett championship with 69 & 67 for a total of 136. Just edging out Jack Wall ( Cave Castle GC) 68 & 69 and a 137 total.

The lowest single nett round of the day went to George Pepper of Hull GC with a 66 in the afternoon

Junior Champion  – Gross

( 2nd Callum Burns 75 & & 73 for 148 but won nett trophy)

Junior Champion – Nett

The top 16 players qualify for the Junior Match play competition on the 22nd of August. All players have been notified so please meet 9am at Hull Golf Club. (See seperate news item for names and details).

Trophys were presented by ERUGC 2023 President Mike Dawson who thanked all the greenstaff for presenting the course in excellent condition, the club staff and members at Cottingham Parks for their hospitality on the day. 

Thanks again to Edward & Eileen Clark for manning the desk for a 10 hour shift, Andy Pittaway our starter, John Illingworth and the parents who helped throughout the day.

Please keep an eye on the wwww.erugc.co.uk website for the 2024 fixtures which will be appearing shortly.

Full results for this event can be found on the East Riding Howdidido page.

Dave Greenwood

Competition Secretary