Yorkshire’s golf team made the long journey to Devon a worthwhile one, returning home victorious after winning the 2024 Boys’ County Finals at Teignmouth Golf Club.
The team showcased exceptional skill, defeating Gloucestershire, Kent, and Cambridgeshire to claim the national title. Among the standout performers were two key players from the Bradford & District Golf Union: Benjy Saia from Shipley Golf Club and Huey Cunningham from Bradford Golf Club.
Image source: https://www.yugc.co.uk/news/2024-boys-county-champions/
Dominating the competition
The path to victory was hard-fought. Yorkshire first faced Gloucestershire, securing a 5.5-3.5 win, before defeating Kent 6-3. In their final showdown against Cambridgeshire, they triumphed with an impressive 6.5-2.5 scoreline, cementing their place as national champions.
Star performers: Tai Naylor and Young Talent
Yorkshire’s Tai Naylor emerged as the star of the tournament. He was one of only two players to remain unbeaten throughout the competition, playing a pivotal role in Yorkshire’s success. His contributions were complemented by the strong performances of 14-year-old Thomas Hartshorne and Alex Boyes, who collectively earned five out of six points in their matches.
Reflecting on the win, Naylor said,
“It’s been a brilliant week all week, with a lot of hard work from the boys.”
A well-deserved win for Yorkshire
Steve Robinson, Yorkshire’s coach, praised the team’s efforts and preparation. He acknowledged that past finals had been closely contested, but this year’s victory was a testament to the hard work put in by both the players and the county’s youth development programmes.
“We tend to do the same things and go through the same processes,” said Robinson. “The county invest an awful lot of money into junior players, and hopefully, they’ll continue to do that and develop world-class players.”
Yorkshire’s investment in youth is already bearing fruit, with three of their young players set to represent England in international competitions this month.
Bradford Union Seniors and Veterans’ Championship
Meanwhile, the Bradford Union’s Seniors and Veterans’ Championship unfolded at West Bradford Golf Club last week. In a tense competition, Stephen Senior from Ben Rhydding narrowly edged out Andrew Burgess from Baildon Golf Club on countback to claim the title. Mark Smith from Fulneck Golf Club finished just one stroke behind in third place, completing the top trio.
Bradford past captains day
The annual Bradford Past Captains Day took place at Woodhall Hills Golf Club, where Ian Long, the home favourite, narrowly missed out on the title after being pipped on countback by Phil Thornton from East Bierley.
Tough end for Bradford in Yorkshire inter-district Union Campaign
Bradford’s final match of the Yorkshire Inter-District Union campaign didn’t end as they had hoped, suffering a heavy 24-12 defeat against Sheffield. This result left them at the bottom of the table, marking a disappointing end to their season.
Despite the setback, Yorkshire’s overall triumph at the Boys’ County Finals highlights the county’s growing reputation as a force in junior golf, with promising young players continuing to rise through the ranks.
