George Rocks junior tour to finish second
ASHBOURNE Golf Club junior George Derbyshire landed a second-placed finish in the final of the renowned Robert Rock Junior Tour.
The nine-hole final, at Little Aston GC, near Birmingham, closed a competition which had begun in snow as long ago as February at Coxmoor GC, Kirkby in Ashfield.
Eleven-year-old George has since played all over the country and finished eighth of 48 players to qualify for the final.
Rock, a European PGA Tour professional who began his career at Ingestre Park GC, near Rugeley, started his Junior Tour some years ago and is also looking to help support junior golf through his own junior academy.
George has been a member at Ashbourne for two years and has dropped his handicap by 10 shots this year.
He hopes to play on the 18hole junior tour next year.
“The tour is a great opportunity for young golfers, both boys and girls, to play at a fantastic array of courses throughout the country with the highlight for me being my day at Hillside (near Southport),” he said.
His dad Phil, for years a Brailsford Cricket Club stalwart, said: “The tour is really well organised by Robert Rock and it was fantastic to see golfers of only eight or nine-years-old playing off handicaps below 18.
“The game is great not just for fitness reasons but because it teaches the kids self discipline, self confidence and social awareness as well.
Ashbourne GC pro Steve Clancy added: “Well done to George, who is one of a number of young golfers who have joined the club in the last two years under our junior membership project and are very much the future of the club.”