England Golf had a fantastic weekend with several young players making headlines. Kris Kim, Will Hopkins, Nellie Ong, and Sadie Adams shined across various tournaments, showcasing England’s growing talent.
Lytham Trophy – Will Hopkins
At the Lytham Trophy, Will Hopkins, an England Men’s player, continued his great form, winning at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.
His final-round -4 led to a three-way play-off against Welsh players Tomi Bowen and James Ashfield.
Hopkins kept his cool in the three-hole play-off, making a birdie on the 2nd after hitting a 185-yard approach shot to five feet.
Reflecting on his win, he said: “I had a very shaky third round. I had to dig deep just to shoot 3-over… I sat with a sandwich and just told myself to go back to the basics of breathing, routine, and rhythm.”
Hopkins mentioned that the leaderboard he saw on the 11th hole was a turning point, fueling his determination to win.
He added, “I had a chance to win in Spain, it just didn’t work out but I learned a big lesson… I’m very proud that when I had another chance, I took it.”
English players Jamie van Wyk (Royal Lytham & St Annes), Daniel Hayes (Bramhall), Ben Bolton (Enville) and Zach Chegwidden (Orsett) all finished in the top-10. View the final leaderboard here.
Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship – Nellie Ong
In the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship, Nellie Ong emerged victorious after several runner-up finishes in previous weeks.
Her bogey-free -7 on the final day at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club secured an 11-under total, four shots ahead of 2nd place.
Ong, back at school the following day, said, “I’ve had three 2nd-placed finishes in national events so it was a massive relief to win one.”
She acknowledged her caddie and father, noting, “My dad was caddying for me so that was nice and some of my England coaches and friends stayed around at the end which was nice too.”
She also spoke about the challenge of juggling school and golf, “I have my A-levels over the next couple of months so I’ll be having a bit of a break before the British Amateur in Ireland.”
England players’ results also saw England take home the Nations Cup from the competition. View the final leaderboard here.
Fairhaven Trophy – Sadie Adams
At the Fairhaven Trophy girls’ event, Sadie Adams triumphed after shooting level-par across four rounds, beating Ellie Lichtenhein by one shot.
Adams shared her journey, mentioning a tough stretch but staying focused. “I just kept telling myself that I was hitting it well and if I could birdie a couple of holes I’d have a chance,” she said.
A pair of birdies on the final two holes secured her victory, which was an emotional moment for her family. “My parents were there to celebrate with me – my mum was crying!” she revealed.
In the boys’ event, Jake Potter (Chelsfield Lakes) finished 3rd while Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley) and Oscar Lent (Walton Heath) finished tied-4th. View the final leaderboards here.
The CJ CUP Byron Nelson – Kris Kim
In another major accomplishment, 16-year-old Kris Kim made history at the PGA Tour’s The CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
Kim became the youngest player to make the cut in 11 years and the youngest European to ever achieve this feat.
Click here to check out the moment he came so close to a hole-in-one on debut.
He said: “It’s been a bit of a blur, everyone’s been so supportive and it’s been great. I feel like I did well to make the cut but slightly underdid it at the weekend but I’m happy with how I played.
Playing in front of the fans has been really good and makes me want to come back even more.
I feel very proud, especially considering the work I’ve done over the winter and throughout my life, I feel like it’s paying off.
I’ve definitely got to work on my stamina. I’ve got to watch what I eat and train better, and eat more on the course.”
Kim shot -6 across his four days of action following rounds of 68, 67, 70 and 73, finishing above the likes of seasoned pros such as Jordan Spieth, Ryan Fox, Cameron Champ, Thorbjorn Olesen, Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre! View the final leaderboard here.
Overall, it was a weekend to remember for England Golf’s young stars, with success across multiple tournaments and age groups.
