Dozens of outstanding young golfers of all ages stepped up recently in a packed Branston Pavilion to receive their awards and trophies at Branston Golf & Country Club’s annual Junior Awards presentation evening.
Added excitement during the evening included a long drive simulator plus putting and chipping competitions, a raffle and auction that raised funds for the club’s Junior Development fund.
Watched by an enthusiastic audience of proud parents, friends and sponsors the awards recognised young golfers who had won Stableford & Medal competitions, shown outstanding dedication and achievement at Branston’s Eagle Course Academy and demonstrated the greatest improvement in the year.
Branston Eagle Academy awards, presented by Jane Docksey, lady captain and Mike Doyle, club captain, went to Alicia Hancock for Outstanding Dedication, Benji Mills for Outstanding Achievement and Academy Golfer of the Year was Harry Weeks.
Presented by Branston’s club captains, the glittering array of eighteen hole Major trophy winners included:
Trudie Hanson & Abi Tallboys – Toon Adult & Junior Trophy
Taylor Coleman – Trevor Wass Bogey Trophy
Tom Alford – Bladon Powell Trophy
Isaac Lamb – Junior Cup
Issi Bryon – Junior Riverside Trophy
Akexei Glass – Atholl Jamieson Matchplay Trophy
Owen Tweed – Junior Club Championship
Alexei Glass – Junior Open Trophy
Issy Bryon – Junior Riverside Cup for best 18 hole Academy Eagle Course performance over twelve months
Abbi Tallboys was awarded the Club’s Most Improved Golfer of 2017 for best handicap reduction and was recognised as Branston’s Junior Ambassador of the Year.
Junior Clubman of the Year, presented by Branston Club vice captain Paul Allen, was Issi Bryon for her outstanding enthusiasm for golf and selfless encouragement of new golfers and members of the Club.
Steve Install, Junior team’s popular organiser, presented awards to Taylor Coleman, Junior Team Players Player of the Year and Ollie Gibbs, Junior Team Outstanding Performer having played in over 50% more matches than any other Junior..
Ben Laing, Branston Club’s managing director on behalf of Tom Storrar, the club’s golf manager tantalised the audience by setting out a glittering array of achievements of the candidate, including being part of the Staffordshire and England regional squads, before announcing, to rapturous applause, Alexei Glass as the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award.
The awards evening concluded with the announcement of Tom Alford as Branston Juniors captain for 2019 with Issi Bryon as vice-captain – the latter meaning that she’ll be Junior captain in 2020 the same year as her father will be Club captain.
Tributes were paid to Phil Bailey and Steve Install for their outstanding work masterminding the successful event and organising Branston’s Juniors.
“Golf is one of the few games where life skills such as etiquette, self discipline and fair play feature highly and thanks to the team around them, all our juniors have an abundance of those elements. The achievements of our youngsters are a credit to their supportive families and to Branston Golf & Country Club where friendship and good sport go hand in hand. They are our future, a testament to the excellence of our golf professionals who nurture them, and all bright prospects for the continuing success of Branston Club,” said Mike Doyle, club captain.
