Royal North Devon Juniors achieve national success

• Wednesday, 8 October 2008
• Paula Benn
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Over 100 clubs participate in the event annually over three separate challenges spread through spring, summer and autumn, which test junior golfers of all ages in five disciplines from putting and bunker play right through to long game.

Over 5000 children participate in the event each year with 20 children with the highest scores in their age groups qualifying for the National Final at Woodhall Spa, the home of the English Golf Union. Remarkably this year 6 of the 20 finalists from all over England, were made up of Royal North Devon Juniors.

The Royal North Devon golfers who qualified for the final were Nick Keen, Jimmy Mullen, Oliie Tanton, Kiaran Tanton, Michael Jones and Michael Townshend.

Out of the RND finalists one competitor, Jimmy Mullen managed to win the under 14 category to become a National Champion for the second year in a row. Mullen commented “to win this event once was fantastic, but to win it twice was simply unbelievable.” Jimmy plays off a handicap of 4.9 and like the other finalists hopes to lower that to scratch in the next couple of years.

The juniors and their parents were treated to a full day at England Golf HQ Woodhall Spa where all the Elite England Teams prepare and are coached.

Head Pro Iain Parker commented `Some of the juniors have already broken into the County Junior set up, and the next stage for them is to become the best group of under 15 yr olds in the South West` he added `Perhaps one or two of our RND juniors can make it back here one day as part of a future England Squad.`

The club at RND have all the facilities to encourage junior development and there are over 60 children ranging in ages from 5yrs to 15yrs who regularly attend coaching sessions each weekend.

The junior golfers are coached and mentored by Iain Parker, Head Professional at Royal North Devon Golf Club alongside Mike Wilson and Dan Wood his assistants.