Hertfordshire duo triumphant at Quinta do Lago
England international Harry Goddard won his first Telegraph BMW Junior Championship boys’ title at the Quinta do Lago resort. The big-hitting 16-year-old recovered from a poor second round to card a final day five-under-par 67 for a nine-stroke victory. Fellow England star Hannah Screen made it a day to remember for Hertfordshire when closing out a two-shot win in the girls’ competition. The day was capped when European Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley was on hand to present the trophies to the proud champions pictured here.
Goddard had a rollercoaster week hitting a course-record 66 in the opening round before a wayward 77 on Thursday left the rest of the field breathing down his neck with 18 holes to play. However, a birdie run in the final round allowed him to pull away from his rivals with a superb return of 67.
Goddard was understandably elated at the finish when describing the experience. “I got my fade back and I knew I would be striking it well again today. I birdied the first and through nine I stiffed it half a foot. It gave me so much more confidence and I knew that I might win from there. It feels great to win.”
Newcastle’s Jamie Wilson and Peebles’ Darren Howie fell away on the final day with the latter finishing second, nine shots behind Goddard. Barclay Brown from Hallamshire finished third on four-over-par in this his second successive Telegraph event and, at just 15 years old, has three more chances to qualify.
The girls’ event was a tight affair down the closing stretch between overnight leader Hannah Screen and first round leader Lily May Humphreys. Screen looked shaken after four-putting from close range on the seventh hole but three birdies calmed the nerves and the rising Berkhamsted star held on to win by two strokes.
“I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Screen. “I’m incredibly proud and it’s such a good platform for what lies ahead.
Norwich’s Amelia Williamson, finished in third position and Cloe Frankish, who heads to the Ladies Tour Qualifying School next week, finished fourth.
For more details about the 2016 Telegraph BMW Junior Championship, including all the final finishing scores visit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/sport/juniorgolf/ .