Mark Hewlett Wins Nett Prize At U14 North Of England Open

Mark Hewlett wins Nett Prize at U14 North of England Open

North of England U14’s Junior Open Strokeplay Championship

South Moor Golf Club in Durham once again hosted this prestigious event for 2019. This typical MacKenzie designed course produced a stiff challenge for this years 95 competitors. Along with the fast Augusta style undulating greens this course oozed natural charm as it winds between the gorse, heather and bracken.

After the 54 hole competition was reduced to 36, due to a rained off first day, Worcestershire’s only participant Mark Hewlett, teed off early on the second day. Mark's first major competition understandably started nervously and he could be forgiven being four over after four holes. A birdie on the tricky par 4, 6th, settled Mark's nerves but a bogey on both the 8th and 9th saw him five over through the turn. After bouncing back with a birdie on the par 5 10th, Mark parred his way in, except for a bogey on the 14th, carding a five over gross 77.

With the Worcestershire U14 County Captain finishing 12th gross and joint first nett after the first round, Mark teed off in the fifth from last group in the final day. His three pars, three bogeys and three birdies on the front 9 found him in a strong position. After parring 10 & 11 nerves started to kick in and with one errant shot on each of the next three holes, leading to a bogey on each, Mark needed to show calm and did, birdieing the 15th. If the 15th didn’t settle him down his third shot into the dog leg par 5 16th to three foot did, and though Mark missed the opportunity for birdie, he shook off any disappointment, parring the last two holes to finish with a gross 2 over 74.

12 year old Mark finished 10th overall, in the gross prizes. However, after carding his best two rounds it was no surprise Mark easily took the best net prize with an incredible two day score of 129, beating second placed Todd McKie, from Cheshire, by four shots.

When asked how did you feel after your first major Junior Competition Mark replied “ I’ve never been nervous playing golf, however from the first tee to the last putt I felt a nervous wreck. I can now use this as experience knowing I can play my best golf if I feel this way again”