Dylan and Eleanor claim Welsh titles
DYLAN Thomas and Eleanor Willis are the new Welsh Boys and Girls U18 champions. Their respective wins at Carmarthen also marked redemption for the pair who used the disappointment of being left out Wales’ European teams as motivation for their triumphs.
Both bagged the silverware after also coming out on top against players who had been in those European Team Championship sides.
Willis, 18, from Chepstow, was victorious 4&3 over fellow Welsh international Harriet Lockley in the Girls final, while 16-year-old Thomas from Pontardawe overcame Pyle and Kenfig’s Tom Peet 3&1 in the Boys final.
“It’s a bit surreal,” admitted Willis after her victory.
“I had not had the best season so far, so I had no expectations coming here, I just wanted to play well and do my best against some really good internationals.
“I played well in the stroke play so I had belief in myself coming into the match play and blocked the pressures out of my mind.
“I was in the European and Home
International teams last year, which was a boost for my confidence too, but then I went through some swing changes which were a bit of a slow burner.
“I learned a lot from those events, especially about the mental side of match play, which really helped me.”
After qualifying in sixth, Willis saw off Milford Haven’s Hollie Jenkins 4&2 in the first round of match play before edging out Emily James 2&1 in the last eight.
Willis secured her place in the final after defeating Ellen Nicholas 3&2 in the semis – before going on to seal the deal against Lockley.
Thomas, meanwhile, also qualified sixth. He then defeated Haverfordwest’s Abe Forsyth 5&4 before wins over Henry Hayward and Alex
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
James and then, finally, Peet.
“It feels amazing,” he said.
“I was disappointed not to make the European team so in the three weeks since then I have worked really hard and played well in the last couple of weeks.
“I am good friends with Tom, we talked all the way round, but it helped me that I got ahead early.”
Thomas’ win clearly made an impact on the Welsh selectors, who this week named him in the team for the upcoming Boys Home Internationals, which will be played at Ashburnham between 6-8 August.
He will be joined by James Ashfield (Delamere Forest), Reuben Bather (Llandudno), Toby Bishop (Trump International), Sean David (Pyle & Kenfig), Archie Davies (Carlisle), Connor Owen (Aberdovey), Tom Peet (Pyle & Kenfig), Matthew Sandoz (Wrexham), Bryn Thomas (Cilgwyn) and Lloyd Walters (Radyr).
In addition, Thomas is one of three players named by Wales Golf for the U16 Italian International Championship at Biella, Italy in early September alongside Sean David and Connor Owen.