County Championships Results

Droitwich GC welcomed the best golfers from across the County for the two-day County Championship on Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th June 2022. In occasionally wet, often breezy and unseasonably cold weather the golfers were challenged by more than just a very well-prepared course.

Wednesday was the traditional Team Championship event, with 19 clubs entering 3-man teams in the A Team competition for the Tomson-James Cup, 6 clubs also had teams entered in the B Team event, playing for the Jubilee Shield, where all players handicaps had to be higher than any player in the A Team event. The format is 18-hole gross medal, with all 3 scores to count, so the stakes were high right from the start.

As usual, players in each team were spread out in different flights within the draw, so that the team position only becomes clear later in the day when the final player's score is posted for each team. It was not until the final flight that the result became clear, with the Worcester Golf & Country Club team of Simon Green, Shaun Roberts & Giles Winthrop taking the Jubilee Shield with a joint score of 230. The Droitwich B team of Gavin Bourne, Richard Milner & Andrew Terry, ran in a very close second with a score of 231.

Shaun Roberts accepting the Jubilee Shield

With the Tomson-James it looked like it could have gone to any team until Richard Sadler came in with a course record equalling 64. With his team members of Adam Norman and Kristian Allen they took the honours 6 shots clear of the field with a score of 210. James Bishop, Neil Grubb & Harrison Leaver of Worcester Golf & Country Club were runners up with 216, two shots clear of the rest of the field.

Tomson-James Trophy winners:

Adam Norman, Kristian Allen & Richard Sadler of Moseley GC.

Moseley GC qualified to play in the English Champion Club Finals to be held at Lilley Brook GC, on Saturday & Sunday 17th & 18th September.

Click here for the full Team results.

On Thursday 49 players competed over 36 holes for the Individual Championship. With five scores under par in the morning some good scores were looking possible going into the afternoon. Mathew Ruffinato (Kidderminster GC) led the morning round with an excellent 66, closely followed by Richard Sadler (Moseley GC) with 68. With his score of 64 from the day before Richard was in a strong position in both the 54 and 36 hole competitions. With four players on 69, Sean McDonnell (Fulford Heath GC), Louie Stott (Bewdley Pines GC) and Steve Lane (Worcestershire GC) there was still plenty to play for! After good first rounds many fell back into the pack and when Richard Sadler posted another sub par round it was going to be tough to beat him. Tom Wakeman (Hagley GC) carded two 69 scores but could not catch Richard who won with a score of 137 and became the Worcestershire County Champion for 2022. Along with his second place Tom took the Youth Trophy for the best gross score for players aged under 21.

Click here for full County Championship results

County Champion 2022 - Richard Sadler.

Silver Medal Winner – Tom Wakeman

Bronze Medal Winner – Kieron Austin

Tom Wakeman, Youth Trophy Winner.

Jason Danks (Stourbridge GC), playing off 4, was able to follow up his morning score of 72 with an afternoon round of 73 to gain an aggregate nett score of 137 and win the Phillip Padmore trophy for the best nett score,

Jason Danks with the Phillip Padmore Trophy.

The top 8 players qualify for the Mens Matchplay competition at Blackwell Golf Club on 24 July and Richard qualifies to play in the England Golf County Champion of Champions competition at Woodhall Spa, the home of English Golf, on 17-18 Sept.

The GD Carr Cup, for the best 54-hole score over both the team and individual event was won by Richard Sadler with scores of 64, 68 & 69 for a 201 aggregate.

Click here for the GD Carr results.

Richard Sadler, GD Carr Cup Winner.

The County would like to thank Droitwich GC for hosting the two days of the Championship, and especially the greens team who produced a course in excellent shape for this major competition. Everyone at the club gave such a great welcome to all the players and officials, and we would like to thank all the staff who looked after us so well. Big thanks to Manager Tom Waldron who not only co-ordinated all the staff at Droitwich but also helped with course preparation and spotting; Tom was joined by Droitwich members who were too numerous to mention but whose help was greatly appreciated.

Finally, the County would like to thank the volunteers, without whose help these events could not take place; referees Tony Edwards, John Whitehead, Di Wylde and Brenda Binnie; starters Rex Harrison, Colin Day, Brian Peplow, Dave McGillivray; and Brian Morris and Alex Bishop on the administration desk.

We look forward to seeing you at Worcester G&CC next year.