St Andrews boys'

open champion

Nicky Maddison

makes flying

start in America

Winner of the St Andrews boys' open championship this past summer, Nicky Maddison, 18, has made a sensational start in United States college golf.

A freshman student, alongwith Dale Middleton from Coventry, at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, Nicky this week won Jayhawk Conference No 2 tournament, obviously the second in a series of stroke-play events arranged for the colleges/universities in the Jayhawk Conference.

It was held at Quail Ridge Golf Club at Winfield, Kansas over a 6,826yd course with a par of 72 and Nicky tied for victory at two-under-par 142 with Anders Engell (Dodge City CC). Nicky had rounds of 74 and 68, his second round including six birdies and two bogeys. Engel had a pair of 71s.

Dale Middleton came third in a field of 48 on 144 with rounds of 70 and 74.

Not surprisingly with such two high finishers, Hutchinson won the team event by a big margin of 31 strokes.

Nicky, pictured above with the Merchants' Cup as St Andrews boys' open junior champion this year, and Dale have only been there a few weeks but already Hutchinson has won team titles in two out of three tournaments. They were fifth in the other.

Nicky was Hutchinson's top scorer in two out of the three events and tied third in the other. His individual placings have been sixth, ninth and joint first.

Nicky, a member of the City of Newcastle Golf Club and Northumberland County, had a very good season before he left for the States. He is the Northumberland Under-21 match-play champion and Under-18 stroke-play title-winner. He was also junior county captain and is undefeated in any junior county match singles since first being selected three to four years ago.

LEADING TOTALS

Individuals

Par 144 (2 x 72) 6826yd

142 Nicky Maddison (Hutchinson) 74 68, Anders Engell (Dodge City) 71 71.

144 Dale Middleton (Hutchinson) 70 74.

Teams

583 Hutchinson.

614 Coffeyville, Johnson County.

10 Teams took part.