Warwickshire Golf
Warwickshire Amateur Championships 2023 - Results & Report
For the first time since it opened in 1994, we would be fortunate enough to be able to host our 2023 Warwickshire Amateur Championships at The Warwickshire Golf Club.
Playing on The Earls course, at just over 7100 yards, it was sure to be a tough test for our county's finest golfers.
55 players would take part and the weather on the day of competition was dry with moderate wind.
Despite the fair weather, the course was taking no prisoners and early indications were suggesting any number around par was looking like a very competitive score.
3 over par 75 was good enough for a top 10 morning position. Luke Allen (Olton), Gareth Jenkins (Stratford on Avon) Harvey Elliot-Money (The Warwickshire) and John Paul Banbury (Moor Hall) all signed for opening 75's. One better was Daniel Bardsley (Moor Hall), Josh Jinks (Forest of Arden) Finley Stokes (Maxstoke Park) and Jack Drury (Stratford on Avon) all at 2 over par. Tom Cleaton back from America knows the Earls course at the Warwickshire well and his one over par 73 was a good start to the day. Three players would shoot level par 72s for a tie for 3rd in the morning. Ian Smith (Forest of Arden) also knows The Warwickshire extremely well, Joel Smith (Stratford on Avon) who is finding plenty of form of late since practicing more with ex county stalwarts George Gill and Alex Summer and the ever-consistent Rob Bardsley (Moor Hall). In 2nd Place at lunch was Alex Ford (Robin Hood) with an excellent 3 under 69. Just the one better and leading at the halfway point was Rhys Lawrence (Coventry Hearsall) with a superb 68.
The sun was out for afternoon play but the breeze remained and so a similar test was ahead for the players.
Ian Smith would add a 75 to his morning 72 to finish tied 6th at 3 over total with Tom Cleaton who would finish with a 74 in his afternoon round.
John Paul Banbury would complete a very solid 71 in the afternoon giving him sole 5th place with a 2 over total.
Alex Ford would rue a couple of mistakes on the par 5s and his afternoon 76 would give him 4th place on 1 over.
Rob Bardsley added another level par 72 in the afternoon and his level par total for the championship would be matched by Jack Drury whose 2 under par 70 was the lowest of the afternoons play.
Rhys was on his last hole of the day, the tough 9th hole back up the hill to the clubhouse. He would not be aware, but a par would be enough to secure him the championship for 2023. A sublime birdie finish and Rhys would sign for an afternoon 74 giving him a fantastic 2 under total for the day and the championship victory by 2 strokes.
Rhys will now get to represent Warwickshire in the English Champion of Champions event at Woodhall Spa later this year.
In the team shield trophy, it would be Moor Hall who would make it 3 successive years as champions with Dan Bardsley, Rob Bardsley and John Paul Banbury all making the top 10 individually so therefore a formidable team to beat. They will go on to represent Warwickshire in the English Champion Club Tournament at Ealing Golf Club later this year.
This year saw a new trophy be added to our Amateur Championship. The Robert Harrison Trophy will be awarded to the low amateur in the championship aged 35 and over on the day of the competition. Ian Smith would be the inaugural winner of this trophy with his 3 over total for the day.
Huge thanks go to The Warwickshire Golf Club for making the championship very special. Patrick Ferguson (Club Director), Ruth Honeywell (Golf Events Manager) and Richard Lee (Golf Operations Manager) all ensured the day was a success. Thank you to Dan and the greenkeeping team for presenting the Earls course to the players so wonderfully.
My personal thanks to our referees for the day - Alastair Scott and Tim Knight and to our starters for the day Giles Fellingham and Nick Hoare, all who kindly gave their time to support the championship for the day.
36 hole Individual Championship Results : Click Here
The Robert Harrison Trophy Results : Click Here
The Team Challenge Shield Results : Click Here
2023 Warwickshire Amateur Champion - Rhys Lawrence
Warwickshire Amateur Championship Medal Winners
(L-R) Jack Drury (Runner Up), Rhys Lawrence (Champion), Graham Barton (Warwickshire Golf Union Immediate Past President)
2023 - The Robert Harrison Trophy Winner - Ian Smith
(L to R) : Ian Smith (Robert Harrison Trophy Winner), Robert (Bob) Harrison.
2023 Warwickshire Team Trophy Winners - Moor Hall Golf Club
(L to R) Dan Bardsley, John Paul Banbury, Rob Bardsley
Chris Brown
Warwickshire Golf Union County Secretary
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