Home hopes shine as rain adds to challenge

THIRTY-TWO youngsters braved heavy rain at Kings Hill Golf Club’s first junior open on Tuesday.

Home players fared well, with Jordan Miles winning the Scratch Trophy thanks to a score of 77.

Luca Babadi (net 71) and Jacob Kelso (net 74) were second and third in the David Hammers Juvenile Challenge Cup, which was won by Scott York, of Upchurch River Valley (net 67).

Kings Hill director of golf Ben Blackburn said: “The course played brilliantly. Credit the boys and girls for getting round.

“The home players have all come through our golf academy and the quality of junior golf here is as high as it’s ever been.” Results: Scratch Trophy: 1 Jordan Miles ( Kings Hill) 77; 2 Dan Smith ( Boughton Golf Club) 80; 3 Alex Pollard ( Weald of Kent) 81. David Hammers Juvenile Challenge Cup: 1 Scott York ( Upchurch River Valley) net 67; 2 Luca Babadi ( Kings Hill) net 71; 3 Jacob Kelso ( Kings Hill) net 74. Girls’ Scratch: 1 Ellen Walker ( Fawkham Valley) 85. Arie Hammers Girls’ Silver Salver: 1 Isha Chhatwal ( Corinthian) net 68.

TO JOIN the academy at Kings Hill, call the club on 01732 875040.

TOP-THREE: Kings Hill’s Jacob Kelso was third in the David Hammers Juvenile Challenge

FOCUSED: Connor Wood from West Malling, left, Kings Hill’s Sam Statham, above, and, below, Spencer Alford, also of Kings Hill

UP TO SCRATCH: Jordan Miles claimed the Scratch Trophy, as, right inset, Dan Smith lines up a putt