For the third year running the East Riding Junior Strokeplay champion added the matchplay crown to complete a stellar season with a double.

Hull’s George Pepper saw off Ganton’s Charles Wright in an epic semi final which could have gone either way down the stretch. George pulled ahead at the 15th with a kick-in birdie after a stunning gap wedge. With the match in his grasp, he somehow let Charles back in with an ugly double at 17, before both found the 18th with big downwind drives and wedges. George’s 12 footer slid by and Charles stepped up with a chance to win the match from half that distance. When that effort also failed to drop, the two went off up the 19th where a calm regulation par got the job done for Pepper.

In the other semi final, defending champion Seth Topham of Ganton had an equally epic match with East Riding Boys regular Huxley Sawyer of Cave Castle. Huxley had the match at his mercy at 2up until Seth holed from 15 feet at the 17th to take it down the last. They too both hit it close at 18, with Seth eyeing extra time from 10 feet. However, Huxley holed from twice that distance to secure his place in the final. Quite an achievement having also knocked out Ewan Mackenzie in the quarter finals in mid August.

So the scene was set for perhaps the final which few had expected at the start of the day.

Pepper began strongly on his home course, but was pegged back to all sqaure through 6. A wild Sawyer drive at 7 gifted the hole to George who then birdied 8 to go two to the good. A classy pitch at the 10th set up another birdie to stretch his lead to three holes.

However, a clumsy bogey at 12 gave the Caveman some hope and things looked in the balance again as Huxley arrowed a wedge to 8 feet at the short 13th. George holed from slightly further though (pictured below) and then really took control with a sensational birdie at the dog-leg 14th. His fourth birdie in seven holes – quite some scoring on Hull’s pure pacey greens.

Despite a bogey at 15, George regathered himself to find the middle of the par 3 16th after Huxley had missed the green right. Huxley’s excellent up and down put a little pressure on George’s two footer (pictured below), but his putting held firm, as it had done all day, to finally take the title.

Seth and Charles played off to decide 3rd and 4th, but as they stood on the 18th tee at all square, they decided to shake hands and split the prize and get back to the warmth of the clubhouse!

ERUGC President Dave Greenwood presented the prizes and trophy in the clubhouse before gathering for a photo outside Kirk Ella’s magnificent clubhouse. The finalists are pictured top with Junior Matchplay organiser Edward Clark who has overseen this event since giving the trophy in the year of his ER Presidency in 1997 – the Union’s Golden Jubilee.

Thanks to Hull Golf Club for once again hosting the knockout stages of this event first won by home hero Richard Coulson in 1997. Ironic that Richard is now on the greens staff at Hull who had presented the course in such wonderful condition with its customary immaculate greens. The staff in the clubhouse looked after players, supporters and officials so warmly all day.

Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary 

Thanks to all at Kirk Ella for courtesy of the course and looking after all of the players and a large band of supporters throughout the day.

Cool Hand Luke edges matchplay marathon

Luke Townhill finally closed out the 2022 Junior Matchplay Championship after his third trip down Hull’s 18th hole in half an hour. 

In the gathering gloom, Cottingham’s Cooper Beck saw his five footer slide by on the 22nd hole of the final, allowing Ganton’s Townhill to tap in and claim victory.

The day had started with two very evenly matched semi-finals as Cooper edged past Cottingham teammate Ewan MacKenzie, whilst Luke had to overcome Hull’s Harry Mukerjea with his local knowledge.

After a nip and tuck match, Cooper finally saw off Ewan at the long 17th, whilst Luke closed out his semi-final a hole earlier with a neat up and down at the par 3 16th.

So ERUGC President and final referee John Illingworth set out with the finalists at 2.40pm unaware of what drama was to follow.

Cooper had looked set to go one up at the par five 12th after a colossal drive, but Luke had other ideas and made an improbable birdie from the trees near the chipping area in front of the clubhouse. The roles were reversed at the 14th as Beck squared the match with an up and down form 80 yards. Halves at 15 and 16 were witnessed by the growing crowd which now included Ewan and Harry who had completed their 3rd/4th playoff with Ewan emerging victorious at the 16th.

Luke’s monster drive up 17 looked like being decisive as Cooper went from trees to bunker to rough short of the green. Luke’s flier from the first cut airmailed the green and somehow Cooper even had a putt to win the hole which cruelly lipped out. The dreaded ‘horseshoe’ happened again at the 18th as Cooper’s six footer for the match span out of the hole after a spectacular approach from the 12th fairway!

So to extra holes in a 1st and 18th loop to find a winner!

After a fairly regulation half in five, the 20th saw Cooper have another chance to take the title, but the subtle break on Hull’s home green again fooled the Cottingham youngster. Another regulation par from both players at the 21st brought them back down the 18th again as Junior Matchplay organiser Edward Clark and referee John Illingworth started to worry about how much daylight remained for the longest final in the event’s 25 year history.

Another monster Townhill drive put him in the box seat as Beck again carved one onto the adjoining fairway. This time Cooper couldn’t repeat his short iron of earlier and flew the green. Both players then felt the pressure as a succession of putts slid by, but Luke held his nerve to claim victory on his 38th hole of the day!

President John Illingworth praised all four players for the spirit in which the matches had been played and thanked Hull Golf Club for once again hosting one of the Union’s prestige junior events. Luke received his trophy in front of dad Joe and proud grandfather Gordon.

All four players will team up again in 2023 and beyond in the ERUGC under 18s side and, judging by the quality of golf on show today, will be hard to beat as they tackle another YIDU campaign.

Beck, Mackenzie, Townhill & Mukerjea make it to Semi Finals

The leading 16 players from the East Riding Junior Championship – held two weeks ago at the KP Club – qualified for the Junior Matchplay knockout held at Hull GC on Monday 22 August.

There was a good cross section of players from clubs in the East Riding. 12 of the starting 16 have all represented the ERUGC U18 boys team this year, which is very encouraging. However due to Yorkshire call ups, the event lost Luke Thornton from Hessle and the stroke play winner, Jack Northgraves from the Ganton GC.

The day and the draw was overseen by East Riding Past President Edward Clark, who ran through the rules for the event before the first match teed off at at 9am.

In the first match, Cooper Beck saw off the up and coming Seth Topham from Hornsea 5&4. They completed 14 holes in just over 2 hours which certainly is speedy golf gentlemen!! Callum Burns and Jack Eastman, both from Cottingham, needed extra time to decide their match, with Eastman winning at the 20th hole.

There were also good wins for Ewan Mackenzie (Cottingham) 5&4 against George Coope, a good win for Warren Burns against the very promising Ben Staveley (Ganton) 4&2. Home course advantage helped Harry Mukerjea see off Tom Ward from Burstwick 5&4, whilst Luke Townhill (Ganton) had to go to the last hole to beat Bobby Beasley from Cottingham, 1up. But the two most impressive performances in the morning matches saw Spencer Richmond run into an inspired Sam Loughton from Brough who won 7&6. In the other match, Grace Lambert from Hessle saw off Alfie Slater 3&2. What was impressive about Grace’s win was that she was 4 down after her first 5 holes!! Very well played Grace.

So to the afternoon quarter finals. These proved to be much closer games.In the first match out, Cooper Beck played Jack Eastman. A very close game all the way round which required extra time with Cooper winning on the 19th hole. Match 2 saw another all Cottingham affair between Ewan Mackenzie and Warren Burns. Ewan winning a closely fought game 2&1. Match 3 saw Luke Townhill beat Sam Loughton 3&2. Match 4 was between Harry Mukerjea and Grace Lambert. Again another tight affair with never more than a two hole difference in the game. This match needed extra time to produce a result with Harry winning at the 20th hole. There was some really high quality golf played in all matches both morning and afternoon.

What was really nice to see was the spirit and camaraderie that the matches were played in. A lot of the people who lost out in the morning stayed behind to support those playing in the afternoon. This was greatly appreciated by those playing in the afternoon.

So Cooper, Ewan, Luke and Harry advance to the semi finals on Sunday 25 September at Hull GC.

As always, well done to everyone involved. Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help make these events happen. Thank you for your hospitality and for being wonderful hosts as always Hull Golf Club. It was greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you all on the 25 September.

Sunil Mukerjea
Junior Team Manager
24th August 2022