Staff WriterBy anyone’s measure, the final day of the English U18 Championship at Farnham Golf Club wasn’t just hot—it was boiling over with drama.
Under a blistering Sunday sun and with a chorus of claps chasing him down the fairways, Frankie Morton of Orsett Golf Club proved he had the mettle to match his game, sealing the national title by a single shot.
In a field packed with talent and tempers fraying under the heat, Morton was the only player to finish under par across all four rounds—70, 69, 67, and a nervy 71. But don’t let that final-round number fool you.
His bogey-free 67 in the morning session, kicked off by a majestic eagle on the par-five 1st, launched him into a three-shot lead and forced the chasing pack to come out swinging.
“It means a lot,” said Morton, clutching the trophy as the sweat dried and the adrenaline wore off. “It’s taken a lot of hard work and it’s good that it’s all paid off. I heard a lot of claps, saw a lot of fist pumps from the group behind and in front, so it was a great day.”
Of course, winning the English U18 Championship is never a Sunday stroll—especially when a local lad has the course on speed dial.
Aaron Moody, whose grandfather is a member at Farnham, gave the home crowd plenty to roar about. The Burhill player roared into contention with a course-record 64, notching nine birdies and nearly holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the last to force a playoff. It was the kind of charge that makes the gallery gasp and the leader sweat.
“Coming down 18 there were a little bit of nerves,” Morton admitted. “I thought I needed to make birdie, I kept it in play, and thankfully made the par putt from four foot. I’m very happy!”
Behind Morton and Moody, the leaderboard was as lively as a pub quiz on a Friday night.
Wentworth’s Josh Thompson launched an assault of his own, eagling the 8th and draining three birdies on the back nine before settling for a share of fourth. He was joined by Thorndon Park’s Ethan Roos, who led after round one but couldn’t keep pace with the fireworks, posting a final-round 70.
Thorpe Hall’s Toby Peters flirted with contention early, rattling off three birdies before a stretch of safe pars and a closing birdie left him just two shots shy. Consistency might win tournaments, but Sunday demanded something special—and Morton answered.
Meanwhile, Abridge’s Charlie Croker deserves a medal for resilience. After an opening 79, most would’ve packed it in.
Not Croker. He rebounded with 68-69-66, the last bogey-free with six birdies, to vault into sixth. It’s the sort of fightback that doesn’t get a trophy, but deserves a standing ovation.
And let’s not forget Surrey’s own Lottie Woodham, the top-performing girl in the field. The West Hill standout closed with rounds of 69 and 67 to finish four-under—a finish as classy as her ball-striking.
So, as the shadows lengthened over Farnham and the final claps faded, it was Morton’s name etched into the record books—proof that hard graft, cold nerves, and a four-foot putt under pressure can still write the best kind of sporting story.
