Warwickshire Golf
Sublime Sutton hosts the 2022 Warwickshire Open (in 2023)
The Warwickshire Open for 2022 was unfortunately called off due to some extremely wet weather prior to the tournament. Sutton Coldfield Golf Club kindly offered to allow us to rearrange this event in 2023.
12 of Warwickshire's top professionals and 24 of our best amateurs would battle it out over 36 holes for the title of Warwickshire Open Champion.
The golf course was as pretty as a picture, the greens running at just over 12 which for any time of year is extremely good but for April, given the weather we had in 2022 and over the winter is nothing short of miraculous.
The weather was overcast but dry, some tough flag positions to keep the field on their toes. We were all set for a good day.
The greens were taking their toll on a few competitors as they adjusted to the speed but nevertheless there were some good scores in the mornings play.
Chris Freeman was putting together a great round, 3 under with 2 holes to play he would unfortunately finish with a 3 putt and 4 putt to still shoot a very respectable level par 72 to lead the professionals at the halfway point, closely followed by Ben Goodison with a one over 73, playing the back 9 in a best of the day 4 under.
From the amateur ranks, Josh Jinks (Forest of Arden), Stephen Creed (Stratford-On-Avon) and Finlay Stokes (Atherstone) all returned 1 over par 73's to be in tied 5th place. In joint second place with 1 under par 71's were Warren Bladon (Kenilworth) and Dan Stanley (North Warwickshire). The best round of the morning came from Nick Brooker (Olton) who played fantastic golf with just one bogey in a fantastic 4 under par round of 68.
The second round got underway in very similar conditions to the morning, perhaps a bit colder but rain free.
From the Professional ranks Steve Yates would add a 74 to his 75 and Sam Dodds would shoot an excellent 70 to get themselves into the top 10. Josh Jinks would add a 75 to finish in tied 7th with the 3rd place Professional overall Andy Gorman on +4 for the event.
Ben Goodison would add another 73 to ensure 2nd place in the Professional event. Chris Freeman would birdie his last hole to ensure his victory as top Professional with a +1 total for the day (145), pipping Ben by a shot. Congratulations Chris.
So to the amateurs fighting for the tournament win. Dan Stanley would have 2 double bogeys in a second round 76, but this would still be enough to secure the 4th place overall amateur position with a +3 total (147). After struggling a little by his own standards in the morning Rob Bardsley (Moor Hall) would card a 2 under 70 in the afternoon giving him a total of +1 (145) and a 3rd place finish in the championship.
Nick and Warren both started their second rounds as they had their first. Nick was 3 under for his afternoon round through 10 holes and Warren was 4 under for the same 10 holes, making 5 birdies in 6 hole stretch along the way. A few bogeys on the way in and it would be Nick who would blink first on this occasion, finishing with a level par 72 in the afternoon for a fantastic total of -4 (140). Warren finished with solid golf to sign for a four under 68 and an impressive total of -5 (139) to seal the Warwickshire Open Championship for 2022 by a single shot.
The T P Cooke Salver is awarded to the amateur with the lowest aggregate score over the Amateur Championships and the Warwickshire Open. The same finishing order for the salver would apply. Rob Bardsley in 3rd place, Nick Brooker securing 2nd spot and the T P Cooke Salver for 2022 going to Warren Bladon.
Warren now holds the Warwickshire Amateur Championship, Warwickshire Open Championship, T.P Cooke Salver and (hard to believe he's old enough but) the Warwickshire Senior Championship. Having consulted the record books, I'm sure this is a first in Warwickshire. I'm sure you'll all join me in congratulating Warren on this remarkable achievement.
To finish - If I could extend a massive thank you from the Union to Sutton Coldfield Golf Club, to Haydn in the office and Pat in the Pro shop for all the help in organising the day, to Chris and his green staff team for presenting a course worthy of any championship worldwide, professional or amateur and to the members of Sutton Coldfield for allowing us the use of the course and facilities on the day.
Thank you to Alastair Scott for giving up his time to referee the event for us and to our President Mark Reynolds for his help and support as starter for the day.
The next event will be the 2023 Warwickshire Amateur - being held on the Earls course at The Warwickshire on Wednesday 7th June. The top 25 Amateurs qualifying from this event for the 2023 Warwickshire Open to be played alongside the Professionals at Maxstoke Park on Thursday 14th September.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at these events.
Chris Brown
Warwickshire Golf Union County Secretary
Pictured Above (L-R): Warren Bladon, Mark Reynolds
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