Liam Caffyn (Dereham Golf Club) and Sophie Clafton (Wallasey Golf Club) crowned as Midland U16 champions at Hawkstone Park..

The 2025 Midland U16 Boys and Girls Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, sponsored by PRO Dream USA and Ping was held at Hawkstone Park Golf Club on 16th and 17th April 2025 with Liam Caffyn (Dereham Golf Club) and Sophie Clafton (Wallasey Golf Club) being crowned as champions.

With Strong winds and a little rain on day one, the competitors were tested over both courses but day two saw an improvement in the weather with the courses being basked on bright sunshine although still a slight bite to the breeze.

After round 1 Liam Caffyn (68) held a 3-shot lead over Alfie Dorrington (71)) and a further shot clear of William Allen and George Walker, both on 72. There were plenty of players queuing up behind with Ezra Hartland, Isaac Hayes and Leo Cahi all on 74 with a further 9 players retuning a 75.

In the Girls competition on the Hawkstone Course, Sophie Clafton (73) held a narrow lead over Annabel Denyer and Rosie Boyle on 74 with Evie Brown just behind on 75. Gabriella Schofield and Bella Watson were in sight of the leader on 77 with Amelia Bryan on 78.

Round 2 in the afternoon saw Harry Evans and Sullivan Goddard return the best of the afternoon session with a 73, Louis Hawes and Alfie Dorrington just one shot back on 74 which gave Alfie the overnight lead on 145 just two in front of Liam.

Round 2 for the girls on the Championship Course saw Sophie Clafton increase her lead with a 74 for a two-round total of 147, Niamh Bush carded a 75 and Abigail Scott two further back with a 77 to move up the leaderboard by 7 places. Rosie Boyle was tied second on 155 with Amelia Bryan and Gabriella Schofield tied 4th on 156. The chasing pack also included Skye Fontanelli, Hanna Nordlund and Annabel Denyer. However, the 8 shot lead would take some catching.

The final round for the Boys on the Championship Course was tight with the field bunching up behind the overnight leader. However, a 77 wasn’t what Alfie was hoping for in the final round which saw him fall to 5th place. Leo Cahi (Cottesmore), joint low scorer of the round with 70 finished 4th and Monty Fincher (Stratford-on-Avon) also with a 70 finished 3rd and was also the recipient of the Brian Purse Memorial Trophy. Sullivan Goddard (Thetford) pushed hard with a 72 to finish on 220 just one behind the eventual winner Lian Caffyn, who also carded a 72, to finish just one clear of the field on 219 and take the U16 Boys Covey Trophy.

The Girls went into the final day on the Championship Course hoping to close the gap on overnight leader, Sophie Clafton. Skye Fontanelli (Faversham) carded the second-best score of the day with a 75 but not enough to overhaul Sophie who recorded the best of the day 73 to extend her lead to 12 on 220. Niamh Bush (Droitwich) moved into 3rd place after a 77 and Rosie Boyle (Long Ashton) secured 4th place with a 78. Annabel Denyer (Woburn) and Gabriella Schofield (Clitheroe) finished 5th and 6th respectively on 234 and 235.

On the final day all the non-qualifiers competed in a stableford competition on the Hawkstone Course. Alex Mowbray (West Byfleet) finished on 42 points with Coby Hall (Hill Barn) on 40 with Will Furness (Ringway) and Ryan Wills (Piltdown) both finishing on 38 to take 3rd and 4th respectively. In the Girls Stableford Amelia Hothersall (Worksop) and Charlotte Denyer (Woburn) finished with 40 points with Amelia taking the title on countback. Amelia Slavin (Broadstone) finished 3rd on 39 with Teagan Ford (Bearsted) 4th on 38.

Winners of the Regional Team Trophy were The East Region (Boys) of Sullivan Goddard, Alfie Dorrington and Oliver McEvoy. Lowest Gross Girls team were The Northwest of Daisy Lee, Gabriella Scholfield and Sophie Clafton. Lowest Gross Mixed Team were The West Midlands of Harry Evans, Oliver Badger and Lucy Crump.

The winner of the Brian Purse Memorial Trophy is for the highest place Boy affiliated to a golf club within the 10 Midland Counties.

The Midland Golf Union wish to thank the sponsors, PRO Dream USA for providing financial support for the event and to Ping for provided an excellent range of Ping golf equipment to the prize winners.

Great thanks also to all the staff at Hawkstone Park (Lewis Baker, Mat Batkin and Head Greenkeeper, Ian George), all the catering teams within the club house and the hotel and all the volunteers who assisted with starting. And finally, the referees on both days, Alex Carson, Andrew Dathan and Roger Howarth.

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