And buoyed by the result of the Island championship at La Moye last weekend – won by Jersey’s Paul Le Chevalier – Jersey Golf Union secretary Rob Leader says the Island’s players are in fine form and that one of them could well win the championship again.
‘I see no reason why we can’t win the county title again,’ said Leader.
‘Our players are in excellent form going into the tournament.
Northants is a tough course, but I’m confident our golfers we can do well there.’ Flying the flag for Jersey are Royal Jersey’s Christy McLaughlin, Gavin O’Neill and Trevor Gray and La Moye’s Richard Ramskill and Andy Clarke.
With the exception of Clarke, a three handicapper, the others have all played at county level for Hampshire, McLaughlin winning the county title when it was played at Royal Jersey in 2000.
Leader added: ‘With the exception of Andy, they have all played one stroke under their handicaps after gross 72s in the medal qualifier for the Island championship last Friday.
‘Three of the five reached the matchplay semis, which is proof of their form.
‘We say every year that the standard of the tournament can’t get any higher, but it does.
Champion Paul Le Chevalier’s opening 67 in the qualifier was a brilliant round.
He would have equalled the amateur course record had he not missed a short putt at the ninth and bogeyed the 18th.
‘The standard was just so high.
Both finalists had tough quarter-final matches, with Le Chevalier coming from two down with four to play to defeat Bob Wickings following a couple of late birdies.
And runner-up Gavin O’Neill won on the last hole against Steve Bowen.
That was an excellent match, too, with both players scoring eagles on the par-5 sixth.
‘Gray’s win against Matthew Parkman was another fine result as he recovered from five down after six holes.’ Le Chevalier and O’Neill won their semi-finals 4 and 3 against Richard Ramskill and McLaughlin respectively.
Le Chevalier got off to a flying start with 3s at the opening four holes for par, eagle, par, birdie.
McLaughlin was one-down when he three-putted at 13 and then he lost the next two holes.
Island champion Le Chevalier opposes Guernsey David Rowlinson in the Channel Islands final at L’Ancresse on Sunday week.
