Nellie Ong, the vibrant youngster from Norfolk, only 18, has already left her mark on the 2024 season, scooping up both the England Girls’ and Women’s Order of Merit titles.
She’s not just playing the game; she’s changing how it’s played. Kicking things off with a fiery start, she snagged third at the French Open qualifiers and dashed all the way to the quarter-finals, showing the old guards a thing or two about grit and grace under pressure.
Not content to rest on her laurels, she nabbed runner-up spots at both the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open and the Scottish Girls’ Open come April.
She topped it all off in May with a brilliant win at the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship—a victory that cements her place as one to watch in the world of golf.
But Nellie didn’t stop at individual glory. In July, she helped England snag a bronze medal at the European Ladies’ Team Championship, followed it up with a win at the Home Internationals in August, and capped off the year with a team gold at the Spirit Invitational Amateur Golf Championship in November.
Ong expressed her excitement, saying, “I am over the moon to win these two awards. My aim was to be consistent all year and I think I have done that, by trying to keep backing up good performances and bringing that confidence to the next tournament.
“It was such an amazing experience competing in a professional event at the Aramco Team Series. It gave me the opportunity to experience tour life and also play with the best players in the world and compare my game to theirs. For that I’m very thankful.
“I hope to show the same kind of consistency next year, working my way up the world rankings, and to help Ohio State get to the National Championship Finals.”
Daniel Hayes and Dominic Clemons also made their mark in their respective categories, with Hayes securing the Boys’ Order of Merit and finishing third in the Men’s Order of Merit.
His year was peppered with triumphs, notably snatching the Carris Trophy and snagging commendable spots at the Brabazon Trophy, amongst other notable tilts.
Hayes shared his reflections, stating, “It’s nice to see my hard work has paid off in both the Boys’ and Men’s OOM.
I didn’t have a great start but became more and more consistent throughout the year, which helped in a lot of the boys’ events that were four rounds or match play events.
Next year I’m hoping to push on, playing overseas more, and in the bigger men’s tournaments, ready to go to college in the USA in August 2025.”
Dominic Clemons, after a remarkable year highlighted by a victory at the Scottish Men’s Open and participation at The Open, expressed his thoughts: “It’s a great honour to win the England Golf OOM this year and a nice way to cap off a good season both in Europe and in the US.
It’s been a fun year with plenty of new experiences and a lot of ups and downs, but ultimately it feels like I have learnt a lot about my game and also myself as a person. Ultimately I proved to myself what I know I am capable of.
“Heading into 2025 I am looking to focus on the things I can control and improve on the areas that need working on, I am looking forward to competing in a New Year and improving on my 2024 season which had many highs as well as many lows.”
Danny Holmes topped the Senior Men’s Order of Merit after a top-five finish at the English Senior Men’s Stroke Play and reached the semi-finals of the English Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.
He shared, “I decided to take some time off on the year of my 60th birthday to see how I would get on, playing in the major senior amateur events in the UK.
Somehow, everything seemed to come together for me, I played well, met so many great golfers and played lots of fantastic courses that I might not otherwise have visited.
“My year culminated in being selected to play for England and winning the Order of Merit – not bad for a London Cabbie!
I have had the most amazing experience this year and playing for England was of course the pinnacle of my golfing life – I’ll always be immensely proud of that.
Opening the packages that arrived with my England kit, particularly my blazer with the England Rose on, was definitely one for the photo album.
“Next year, I hope to play in as much as possible, but probably not quite like this year, due to work and family commitments.
Even if I don’t quite get to that stage again, I will always have those wonderful 2024 memories.”
Jackie Foster claimed the Senior Women’s Order of Merit, reflecting on her season: “I think 2024 would be a hard year to beat for me and I’m delighted to have won the English Senior Women’s OOM.
My season started well with a good win in the Senior Amateur, having nearly missed the match play qualifying, and I also played well in the Senior Women’s Stroke Play at Waterlooville.
“At the time I was disappointed to lose the British Amateur at Saunton but on reflection, I was pleased to have gone so close to retaining the trophy I won in 2023.
That had also given me exemptions to play in this year’s USGA Senior Amateur and professional events, and it was great to be able to take up those opportunities.
“I was proud to be part of the English team that won a bronze medal in the European Team Championships and I was also really honoured to have been selected to represent Team Europe in the first women’s Concession Cup event for seniors and mid-amateurs, against the USA, for the Thompson-Bonallack Trophy in Savannah. Unfortunately we didn’t win but it was another great experience.
“It will be difficult to top this year but I have some great memories to use and help focus on continual improvement in 2025.”
These athletes’ hard work and impressive accomplishments don’t just show off their talent—they’re laying the groundwork for even bigger things to come in their golf journeys.
