Oxfordshire Junior Squad gave a tremendous performance at Junior County Week held at Mentmore last week holding their own against girls with much more match play experience and lower handicaps.
The Squad: Claire Reynolds, (Captain) & Imogen Vessey (Chipping Norton), Abi Laker (Burford) Nicole du Plessis, Flora McPhail & Cara Gainer (Frilford), Gemma Clements & Sophie Stone(Studley),
Their first match was against Hertfordshire on Tuesday morning and were fiercely fought with nearly all of the 7 matches finishing on the 18th . Hertfordshire put out a very strong team but Oxon managed to secure 2 ½ points as Gemma Clements won her match 1 up and the rookies Sophie Stone came home victorious winning on the 18th and Cara Gainer halved her match.
MATCH RESULT - Hertfordshire 4 ½ Oxfordshire 2 ½
In the afternoon they went on to play Berkshire and Abi Laker chalked up a very impressive 5/4 win, Claire Reynolds put a second point on the board by winning her match 2/1. Nicole du Plessis (Frilford) achieved a half and Cara Gainer our last player out had a great 6/5 victory and whilst Flora McPhail narrowly lost her match she holed her third shot on the par 5 8th for an albatross which certainly shook her opponent.
MATCH RESULT - Oxfordshire 3 ½ Berkshire 3 ½
The next morning they played their last match against Buckinghamshire and had some great wins - Abi Laker won her match 3/2, Flora McPhail 1up, Claire Reynolds 1 up, and once again Cara Gainer managed to put points on the board for Oxon winning her match 1up.
MATCH RESULT - Oxfordshire 4 Buckinghamshire 3
Hertfordshire finished the week in first place with 5 points from Bucks and Oxon with 3 points each – Bucks came second on countback having 11 ½ points from the individual match wins to Oxons 10 points.
In the triangular match between the three counties in the Midlands South Division (Berks, Bucks and Oxon), Oxfordshire were the winners and now go on to represent the BB&O counties at the Midlands South County Finals where they will play the winner from Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire/Herefordshire in October.
On the final afternoon the teams played a Stableford foursomes competition with all 8 girls in the squad playing with the best 3 scores to count. Equal with 113 points were Bucks and Oxon, on countback using the fourth match, Bucks came out on top to take the trophy.
A special annual presentation of the Boddington Trophy was made at County Week by Oxfordshire’s Junior Organiser Suzy Smith to the most improved Oxfordshire junior girl and it was awarded to Cara Gainer for her impressive performance. Since Cara only started playing golf last September, she has reduced her handicap to 18 already and has proved that she can play well below her handicap, judging by her County Week performances!