GOLF: Lavender lands top award at Northampton GC juniors presentation

More than 100 young golfers, parents, relatives and friends attended the Northampton Golf Club Junior Presentation evening as the club celebrated a successful year for the next generation.
Northampton Golf Club junior girls winners face the cameraNorthampton Golf Club junior girls winners face the camera
Northampton Golf Club junior girls winners face the camera

With County team director Mary MacLaren helping to hand out some of the 75 awards, more than 20 different players were honoured for their performances at club and county level during the last year.

Ben Lavender was named junior player of the year, while Sam Gilkes clinched the gross and net titles in the Boys Club Championships in addition 
to picking up eight other awards.

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Other regular visitors to the winners table included Elliot Strickland, Katie Amos, Sophie Copson, Amelia Humphries, Ethan La Porta and Laura Auld.

Northampton Golf Club junior boys winners face the cameraNorthampton Golf Club junior boys winners face the camera
Northampton Golf Club junior boys winners face the camera

European Seniors Tour

Northants County’s Paul Broadhurst will be looking to cap a magnificent season on the European Seniors Tour with another victory in the MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius this week.

The 51-year-old, who has already guaranteed the John Jacobs Trophy for winning the Order of Merit on the back of clinching the British Seniors Open, joins a strong field on the idyllic Indian Ocean island.

With 31 European Tour winners and 34 Senior Tour champions taking part, double winner Colin Montgomerie is expected to provide the biggest challenge on the magnificent Constance Belle Mare Plage layout.

Northampton Golf Club junior boys winners face the cameraNorthampton Golf Club junior boys winners face the camera
Northampton Golf Club junior boys winners face the camera

European Tour

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Ryan Evans put the disappointment of missing out on a full European Tour card out of his mind by making the cut in the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland.

The Wellingborough pro, who gained an invite to the event down under after finishing 135th on the 2016 European Tour Order of Merit, started with two scores of 73 at Royal Pines Resort.

In a field that included Adam Scott and Ian Poulter, the 29-year-old carded 74 on the third day, before responding with five birdies in a final round 69 to move into 62nd place.

Ladies European Tour

Charley Hull and Meghan MacLaren will compete as professional golfers in the same event for the first time as they tee off in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in the UAE on Thursday.

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The former county team-mates go into the Ladies European Tour competition in stunning touch after both players recorded victories in professional events recently.

Kettering’s Hull secured her maiden win on the PGA Tour as she finished two strokes clear of the field in the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida.

MacLaren’s success came in Spain whilst competing as an amateur on the LET Access Series, but after turning pro last month the Wellingborough golfer will now be able to earn money.

Perhaps of more importance to the former Curtis Cup winner in the short term is to find some good form ahead of her appearance in LET Qualifying later this month in Morocco.

Northampton

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Northampton Golf Club member Martin Izzard has released a book about the history of his local club and in particular its Harlestone home for the last 25 years.

Entitled ‘Harlestone Park; Good Air and Good Golf’, it looks at the momentous move and transition from Kettering Road in 1990-1991 and provides a unique insight to the course and the surrounding countryside.

Izzard, who also wrote a book about the history of county golf called ‘Golf in Northamptonshire 1876-2008’, says this latest publication was just as pleasurable to research.

He said: “For the past four years, I’ve dedicated my time and efforts to a passion of mine, that being Harlestone Park and Northampton Golf Club.

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“Specifically, the time has been focused on creating a 
triumphant piece for locals and every member, which is a celebration hardback colour book charting the club’s illuminating history and the local area.”

Priced £19.99 and available for Christmas, copies can be purchased from the professional shop at Northampton Golf Club.

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