The Dyke House Academy team of Jack Burton, Louis Westmoreland and William Skipp who claimed the English Schools Team Championship at Woodhall Spa.

THREE Durham teenagers who have been coached by European Tour winner Graeme Storm helped Hartlepool’s Dyke House Academy win the English Schools’ Team Championship.

Fourteen-year-old Jack Burton scored 40 Stableford points while 17-year-old Louis Westmoreland registered just one less to give the County Durham school a three-shot victory with 79 points over the Bracken course at Woodhall Spa, the HQ of England Golf.

William Skipp’s 35 points were discounted with the best two scores out of the three counting.

Dyke House Academy’s nearest challengers were Scarborough’s The Graham School, who were represented by Sean Burrows, Tommy Risker and Jack Northgraves.

They racked up 77 points to finish two points clear of the third-placed team from Oxford’s Matthew Arnold School, who were representd by Elizabeth Ball, Jakob Johnson and Freddie Whitfield.

“I’m over the moon,” said Dyke House Academy teacher Rhys Morris.  “We played very well and thoroughly deserved our victory.

“We run an elite sports scheme at the school in which golf is one of five sports featured and the coaching the boys have been receiving from Graham Storm and James Harper at The Wynyard Club is definitely helping because we’ve done well in every competition we’ve played.

“We’re all proud of what they have achieved.”

Burrows, from The Graham School, won the Tom Ward Cup awarded to the player with the best individual points total.

He accumulated 41 points to beat Ball, from Matthew Arnold, and Esme Hume, from Hertfordshire’s Roundwood Park School, on countback.

Burton, Bedford School’s Wilf Rush, Wykham Park Academy’s Stanley Kay, West Exe School’s Reggie Reid and Lucy Moss, from Queen Elizabeth, Kirby Lonsdale, all scored 40 points.

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The Golf Foundation’s annual pro-am will switch to a GolfSixes format at Sussex’s picturesque Downs Course at Golf at Goodwood with an evening event in the glorious Goodwood House

THE Golf Foundation is teaming up with Golf At Goodwood to create a golf day with a difference promoting the GolfSixes game – hosted by European Tour winner Graeme Storm.

The charity’s 33^rd annual pro-am has been given a facelift and will raise funds to support the Golf Foundation’s “Start, Learn and Stay” philosophy in order to encourage more young people from all backgrounds to take up golf – and grow the game.

The West Sussex club will host the Golf Foundation Goodwood Sixes on Monday, October 7, with all the proceeds going to the national charity.

Golf at Goodwood has spectacular views of the Sussex Downs. Teams will play a range of three formats in total, including GolfSixes, which the European Tour has introduced – and is now being used by junior sections across the country to get kids hooked on the game.

Guests will start the day with a lavish breakfast at The Kennels, before enjoying the challenge of The Downs Course in a famous Woody buggy.

As well as the GolfSixes – featuring a number of on-course challenges – Storm, who has won twice on the European Tour and played in the same Walker Cup team as Paul Casey and Luke Donald as an amateur, in 1999, will host a special clinic in his role as a Golf Foundation Ambassador.

Players will take part in the ‘Flop-Shot challenge’, ‘Beat-the-Junior’ and the ‘Beat James Braid’ hickory challenge.

The latter is named after the five-time Open Champion and designer of The Downs Course.

Players will also have personalised lockers, an on-course gin tent and other refreshments during the day.

The day will be completed with a three-course meal and the chance to bid for luxury experiences in the charity auction, all taking place in the elegant splendour of Goodwood House – which is synonymous with the Festival of Speed motor racing extravaganza.

A grand tour of Lord March’s 17^th Century stately home is also on the menu.

Golf at Goodwood’s general manager Stuart Gillett said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Golf Foundation on a unique and innovative day where we will be able to celebrate the great work of the foundation – but also raise awareness for junior golf.

“We hosted the launch of the GolfSixes League back in May when over 70 children enjoyed The Park Course, and it really is a fantastic format.

“We will be incorporating elements of this into the event, which will be great fun.

“Our aim has been to create a different type of golf event with some fun and innovative tweaks which will be memorable for all.

“To then finish the day off with a dinner in Goodwood House is very special. We hope the event will be well-supported as the Golf Foundation does such a wonderful job to help grow the great game of golf.”

Vanessa Bell, the Golf Foundation’s head of fundraising, said: “We wanted to take all the best things from our traditional pro-am – the camaraderie, generosity and sense of fun that our supporters were well-known for – and then freshen up the offer.”

In previous years, the pro-am has seen teams play with stars from the European, Challenge and Staysure Tours, while last year members of the Ladies European Tour took part at London Golf Club to highlight support for growing the girls’ game in particularl.

Since the introduction of the GolfSixes competition by the Golf Foundation in May, some 3,000 boys and girls across 260 golf clubs have been competing in 55 inter-club leagues.

Pro-am guests have the added option of experiencing a special 18-hole ‘GolfSixes Challenge’ on Sunday, October 6, before enjoying a feasting menu at Goodwood Hotel that evening.

Bookings are for £960 for a team of four. To book your place call (01992) 449830 or email fundraising@golf-foundation.org

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