Cameron Farrell with the trophy for having the best third-round score, apart from the overall winner. Pictured with past English Golf Union president Roy Case. Image by courtesy of Tom Ward.

Cameron Farrell highest Scots finisher in Princes gales

Cameron Farrell (Cardross), a creditable joint sixth, was the leading Scot at the end of the English Under-16 boys’ open stroke-play championship at gale-lashed Princes on the Kent coast today.
Cameron totalled 304 with rounds of 75, 75, 75 and 79 – his last 36 holes on the final day, when the 30mph wind gusted up to 40mph, reflected the toughness of the conditions. He had the best scratch score of the third round which earned him a trophy (see above).
Jamie Savage (Cawder) finished joint eighth on 305 with scores of 73, 73, 79 and 80.
Anthony Blaney (Liberton) came joint 11th with 74, 77, 77 and 79 for 307.
James Steven (Kirhill) shared 17th pace on 310 with scores of 74, 77, 82 and 77.
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil had rounds of 72, 76, 81 and 83 for a share of 23rd place on 313.
The last of the Scottish qualifiers for the final day was Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and Galloway) on 314 with scores of 72, 76, 82 and 84 for a share of 29th position.
Winner by five strokes with a two-over-par total of 290 was Toby Tree from Worthing, Sussex with two great wind-taming rounds of 73, despite the ferocity of the wind. His earlier scores were 74 and 70.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288(4x72)
290 Toby Tree (Worthing) 74 70 73 73.
295 Max Orrin (North Foreland) 72 71 79 73.
300 Matthias Schwab (Austria) 69 72 78 81.
302 Patrick Kelly (Boston West) 73 74 83 72, Jamie Clare (East Sussex National) 76 72 77 77.
304 Pablo Matesanz (Spain) 76 70 79 79, Cameron Farrell (Cardross) 75 75 75 79.
305 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 73 73 79 80, Mattew Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) 73 74 80 78, Gavin Moynihan (Donabate) 74 73 82 76.
Other Scottish scores:
307 Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 74 77 77 79 (jt 11th).
310 James Steven (Kirkhill) 74 77 82 77 (jht 17trh).
312 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 72 76 81 83 (jt 23rd).
314 Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and Galloway) 72 76 82 84 (jt 29th).

Wind-cheater Toby Tree wins by five strokes

REPORT FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Toby Tree overcame brutal conditions that floored most of his rivals to win the English Boys Under 16 Stroke Play Championship, supported by FootJoy, for the McGregor Trophy at a wind-swept Prince’s Golf Club.
Two rounds of 73 on a difficult day on the Kent coast saw him finish on two over par 290 for a five shot winning margin from Kent’s Max Orrin and by ten from Matthias Schwab of Austria, leader for the first two rounds.
Two years ago Tree, pictured with trophy, by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography, won the English Under 14 title at Coxmoor and he also won the Douglas Johns Trophy last year at Harewood Downs. So the McGregor completes a unique treble.

“That was my target for the year to win the under 16 and complete the treble,” he said. “It was a tough day and I was annoyed after the morning round because I finished triple bogey-bogey-bogey. If I hadn’t done that I would have been seven shots ahead.”

As it happened, he began the final round just two ahead and he admitted he was anxious over the front nine. “Then I birdied the 11th and heard that Matthias had made triple,” Tree added.

“Then I knew if I finished solidly I would be safe. I knew I had a five shot lead on the 13th so I wasn’t under any pressure. But I managed to three putt the last for another bogey.”

So how was it that Tree made light of the wild conditions when most of the field were running up scores that were more like a lottery that a golf tournament?

“At Worthing, it is on down land so we get a lot of practice in the wind,” Tree declared. “I can fly the ball low with my long irons so I can adapt to these conditions which don’t worry me.”

Orrin, his Under 16 international team-mate, gave himself a mountain to climb after a morning 79, but he bounced back well with 73 which included a birdie-four at the long 12th followed by an eagle-two at the 13th.

But the most disappointed must have been Schwab. He looked in control for the first two rounds but he also suffered in the wind, carding 78 followed by 81 for 300.

His chances disappeared when he went 7-5-7 from the tenth, spilling seven strokes over the stretch.

“It was very difficult but Toby had no problems,” he said with a smile, “It was bad concentration and I got tired. But I learned a lot this week.”

The Under 15 title looked set for Kent’s Jake Spearpoint. But he was pipped by Spain’s Pablo Matesanz on 304.

But the final word goes to Tree. Having completed the treble, he heads to Woodhall Spa next week for the Carris Trophy so don’t bet against him landing the Under 18 title.