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P&K youngsters shine in Portugal

PYLE & Kenfig Juniors last week played exceptional golf to be crowned Home Nations Club champions at Morgado Golf & Country Club in Portugal, writes Tony Poole.

A nine-strong team - comprising captain Jordan Oliver, Sean David, Callum Hook, Ethan Langley, brothers Sam and Tom Peet, Elliot Watkins together with sisters Elin and Ffion Tynan - not only gave the Kenfig-based club a shot in the arm but also Welsh Junior golf in general.

To put things in prospective it was only the second time for a Welsh club – in the 25-year history of the event – to take home the Nigel Dolton Trophy.

Vale Resort won the tournament back in 2016 while three years earlier they shared honours with St Pierre.

It was the second occasion for P & K to represent Wales in the final – back in 2017 they finished fifth.

However, the P & K youngsters had to endure a few nail-biting minutes before celebrating a famous victory.

It was down to the final against the Windlesham club from Bagshot in Surrey ending 3-3, and the Kenfig youngsters eventually won it 7-3 on holes won.

“It seemed like an eternity before the winner was announced, and eventually it was settled by three-up wins from Sean David and our pocket-rocket Elin Tynan,” explained P & K team manager

John David ahead of a Gala Dinner.

“It allowed a talented group of young golfers to celebrate a win that was down to an all-round effort from nine team members.

“But the team are only too aware they couldn’t have pulled off the win without the backing from the entire club and sponsors John Pye Auctions.’’

In the final, P & K gave Windlesham an incredible 44 shots and despite Ffion Tynan shooting four-under par, she lost out on the home hole while Tom Peet was three under the card and also lost by a hole.

Sean David finished four-under par to win his match three-up, but Sam Peet was another player to lose on the 18th green by a single hole.

That left the two P & K tail gunners to pull things back and Jordan Oliver turned in captain’s performance to win the day by one hole.

However, the story of the final was ultimately young Elin Tynan, who despite giving opponent Kaiden Ironside an amazing 10 shots, shook hands with him on the 16th green following a superb three-up victory.

All this should make for excellent television, as Sky Sports Golf recorded the final and will show it at a date yet to be announced.

Full tournament results: Page 53