Kent Golf Limited
Junior Championships 2023 report
Date published: 1 Aug 2023
The 2023 Junior Championships were held at Dartford Golf Club on the last day in July and, rather fittingly, we had 36 players in the 36-hole scratch competition and 18 players in the 18-hole handicap competition. It’s almost like we planned it!
Blazing a trail in the morning round was defending champion, Max Murray (Sundridge Park), who posted a terrific six-under par 63 which gave him a seven-shot lead at lunch over home player Tommy Hulance. One shot further back on 71 were Ed Greenslade (Wildernesse) and Max Moseley (Knole Park), with another home player, Haiden Matos, and Tom Chapman (Littlestone) lurking just behind on 72. Sadly, for Max Murray, the afternoon brought mixed fortunes and he slipped to a 75, giving him a level-par total of 138, which would ultimately prove to be good enough for second place. Tommy also couldn’t maintain the high standard of the morning and a 75 from him also saw his chances scuppered for this year. Ed went one better in the afternoon with 70 whilst Max Moseley matched his morning 71 to put them in fourth and fifth places respectively. Moving up the leaderboard with a one-under par 68 was Tom Chapman and his 140 total gave him third place overall. But the honours belonged to Haiden Matos who had five birdies in the first eleven holes of his afternoon round. Dropped shots at 13 and 16 threatened to derail him but he held his nerve well to hole a four-foot putt on the home green for another birdie and a 65; enough for the narrowest of wins!
There was more good news for the Dartford players as Sasha Hellen defended her Girls’ title with a nine-shot victory over Anouk Woodhouse (Sene Valley). Both Sasha and Haiden also had the best nett scores on the day – quite an achievement – and, along with Tommy Hulance, made up the side that won the Team Trophy for Dartford. What a day for the home players!
In the 18-hole handicap event there was also a lot of good golf and 37 points from Teagan Ford (Bearsted) – on countback from Drew Love (Sittingbourne) - was only good enough for third place. Taking the runner-up spot with 39 points was Luke Hopson (North Foreland) but no-one could match the fine 42 points posted by James Collett (Knole Park). The G. Hayward Trophy, presented to a young player who has shown most promise, was this year given to Caleb Twyman (Prince’s).
Sasha and Haiden will now go on to represent Kent in their respective England Golf Champions events at Woodhall Spa in September, and, along with Tommy, make up the Dartford team that will play in the Junior Champion Club event in two weeks’ time at the same venue. We wish them all well and know that they will give of their best and try to bring the spoils home to Kent!
Thank you to Dartford for their generosity in giving us the course and for the referees, ball-spotters and club members who gave of their time to help out; we simply couldn’t do it without you! It was a long and busy day but heartening to see so much talent on display – the future of Kent Golf looks bright indeed!
>> Scratch Championship results
>> Handicap Championship results
Boys' 2023 County Champion - Haiden Matos (Dartford)
Girls' County Champion 2023 - Sasha Hellen (Dartford)
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