Warwickshire Golf
Pre Season Friendly - Boy's v Men's 2nd Team
Pre-Season Friendly - Boys v Men's 2nd Team - Sunday 26th February - Ladbrook Park GC
Teams:
| Boys Team Player | Club | Men's 2nd Team Player | Club | |
| Oliver Clark (c) | Ladbrook Park | Lee Podmore | Harborne | |
| Lennon O'Neill-Knibbs | Coventry Hearsall | Steven Keay | Harborne | |
| Louis Taylor | Ladbrook Park | Bobby Campbell | Ladbrook Park | |
| Alfie Mitchell | Nuneaton | Paul Reeve | Ladbrook Park | |
| Callum Lee | Moor Hall | Alex Spencer | Ladbrook Park | |
| Freddy Montgomery | Moor Hall | Harry Ibbertson | Coventry Hearsall | |
| Ben Storer | Moor Hall | Niall Collins | Robin Hood | |
| Ben Hopkins | Hearsall | Alex Smith | Copt Heath |
Pre-season preparations got underway for our Warwickshire Boys’ team with an extremely friendly 18-hole “friendly”, against our very own Men's 2nd Team.
The venue was Ladbrook Park Golf Club, home to no less than 5 of the 16 players (and a certain Boys’ team manager too!). When the fixture was arranged some months ago, we were well and truly hostage to whatever the winter would present to us on the day. It could have been 2 feet of snow, frosty winter greens, or a waterlogged course. However, we were absolutely delighted to find an almost Spring-like day (save for a biting wind) and a course that you could expect to see at the end of March rather than the end of February!
Seven of the 8 boys selected were part of Team Warwickshire’s Midland Golf Union league-winning under 16’s team from 2022, and so the importance of this meeting for their ongoing development as excellent young players cannot be overstated. Not only did it give them the chance to play some early season competitive golf, but they also got to see at close quarters the qualities they will need in order to go on and represent the county at men's level in the future.
It was decided that the best use of this opportunity would be to send the boys out in singles competition against a men's team opponent in scratch matchplay. In many cases, this would mean they were giving up shots, but the result of each match was much less important than the valuable experience gained. For that reason, results are not recorded here, but I can report that the matches were keenly contested and enjoyed by all.
Fair to say that the boys found the matches tough, but every player took away valuable lessons. For their part, the men were nothing but complimentary about the standard of play from the boys, and their general on-course demeanour, which was great to hear.
Matches like this give our teams the very best chance of going into the season well prepared and ready for victory, and so sincere thanks go to the Warwickshire Golf Union board for supporting the endeavour, and to the Men's 2nd team for helping to nurture the young talent in our squad.
Our thanks also go to Ladbrook Park Golf Club, firstly for hosting us (which is very much appreciated), secondly for a well presented course, and finally for their excellent catering and hospitality.
The next fixture for the Boys’ team is a final 18-hole friendly on Sunday 12th March against Nottinghamshire, to be played at Stonebridge Golf Club.
Simon Taylor
Warwickshire Boys Team Manager
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