LINKS golf represents the height of unpredictability. The exposed nature of Jersey’s two premier courses — coupled with the trademark stiff breeze and punishing rough — presents a stern challenge as spring draws to a close.
With that in mind, Jersey’s elite male and female golfers were relieved to find conditions holding firm. Scoring at La Moye Golf Club during the 2025 Rosscot Jersey Strokeplay Championship duly reflected the welcome spell of fair weather.
The men’s 72-hole contest began on Thursday. Home favourite Charlie Kiberd opened with a 71 (-1) — the only under-par loop of the day. Close behind were Royal Jersey’s Sam Quail and rising star Jacob Townsend, who both returned tidy 72s.
14-year-old Townsend, playing off a 5 handicap, raced to -5 through 11 holes and, despite slipping back, delivered a highly impressive start.
Friday brought yet more favourable conditions, and Quail — runner-up in both 2023 and 2024 — looked determined to go one better. A second consecutive even-par effort gave him a two-shot edge over Kiberd, who compiled a 75, after three dropped shots in the closing four holes.
The standout round came from the experienced Richard Ramskill, who bounced back from a 77 (+5) with a classy two-under 70, finishing with three straight birdies. He would sit just three adrift heading into the weekend.
From 57 entrants, 17 progressed to Saturday, with nine players still within eight strokes of the lead. Saturday marked 36 holes for the men and the start of the women’s 36-hole showdown.
Royal Jersey fielded a formidable women’s trio in defending champion Anabelle Lucas-Villar, Melissa McMahon and Hannah Scriven. From La Moye, Lily Buckley, Abi Harris and Brona Lambert looked to make home advantage count.
Buckley set the tone in the morning. A steady 76 (+2), featuring two birdies and only four bogeys, saw the 21-year-old claim the halfway lead.
Scriven was two shots back after a composed 78 (+4), underlining the quality on show when conditions allow.
Lucas-Villar made a solid start, but faltered on the inward half to finish with an 81. McMahon returned an 80, while Chloe Cadoret’s 83 rounded out the top five – all in contention heading into the decisive afternoon.
Meanwhile, the final men’s pairing of Quail and Kiberd offered plenty of drama. Quail began the day two clear, but Kiberd burst out with back-to-back birdies.
Quail, in contrast, stumbled with four bogeys in succession — the early swing leaving him four behind.
Kiberd, who had worked relentlessly on his game over the winter, remained assured on familiar turf. Three under with five to play, he gave up two strokes late on, but still signed for a composed 71 (-1), reclaiming the top spot.
Quail regrouped after his rough start to salvage a 76 (+4), staying within striking distance. Matthew Parkman, Oliver Allchin, and defending champion Josh Ozard also climbed the board with third-round 72s.
Still seeking a breakthrough win in one of Jersey’s two flagship events – this and the Jersey Amateur Championship – Kiberd began the final round with a slender advantage. He never let it slip.
A monster birdie putt on three dropped, with more birdies at five and eight, which saw him surge five clear at the turn. In truth, his control from tee-to-green suggested the gap could have been even wider.
Quail’s front nine was much more eventful. He matched Kiberd’s birdie at three, but a triple-bogey seven at the tricky fourth looked to have put paid to his chances.
To his credit, he responded with three straight birdies from six through eight to keep a flicker of hope alive.
But Kiberd didn’t flinch. Further birdies at ten, 11 and 16 – and just a single dropped shot at 13 – capped a sensational 67 (-5), securing a runaway eight-shot victory.
Matthew Parkman, recorded scores of 73 and 72 on a solid final day to secure third place with nine-over-par, while Simon Allchin (+12) and Alex Guelpa (+13) rounded out the top five.
In the women’s competition, La Moye supporters hoped Buckley could seal a dream home double.
It wasn’t without its wobbles. She turned in 42 (+6) after a rough patch from holes seven to nine, followed by bogey at 11 and a double at 13. But under supreme pressure, the youngster rallied well – carding a birdie, a bogey, and three steady pars to close out.
Scriven, unaware of Buckley’s target, drew level with a birdie at the par-5 16th. But a costly double at 17 dashed her hopes and she had to settle for second.
Lucas-Villar fought back admirably from +5 through seven to shoot 80, finishing four back. McMahon flashed some of her best form, but two triple bogeys saw her slip to an 82 and fourth spot.
In a classy field, comprised of the best players our Island has to offer, both Kiberd and Buckley fended off plenty of star quality to etch their names into the annals of Jersey Golf.
All signs pointed to an exciting week, with the weather playing ball and the western-based links in stunning condition.
“I’m absolutely buzzing to get it over the line,” said an elated Kiberd. “To shoot –1 and then –5 today felt great to close it out.
“A lot of hard work has gone into my game, spending a lot of hours on the range, pitching area and around the greens. It’s just a really nice feeling to see all of that effort reflected in my scores in a competition as big as this.”
Kiberd, is close friends with another of Jersey’s best, Jo Hacker. The pair grew up together going toe-to-toe on the links of La Moye, with both blossoming into two of the Island’s best players.
Hacker, now a professional golfer on the Alps Tour following a decorated amateur career, Kiberd touched on how valuable Hacker’s guidance and mentorship has been.
“He’s helped me loads when he’s back on the Island,” added the champion. “I spent a lot of time practicing with him and learning his mindset while out on the course.”
“He’s always been very strong mentally and temperament wise and I feel like that’s definitely filtered into my game. I tried to split each 18 holes into nine and aimed for shooting under par in each of those.
“That was my guide in getting it round. But I was pretty good off the tee and a lot of putts dropped, which was ultimately the difference.”
Meanwhile, in the women’s event, 21-year-old Buckley was also in unfamiliar waters. After claiming her first Jersey Golf crown in the foursomes, the youngster was in search of a ‘major’ crown to cement her place in the local history books.
Playing off a course handicap of seven, Buckley made full use of the benign conditions on Saturday morning to post a two-over-par 76. Her steady round comprised of two birdies, four bogeys and 12 pars.
Naturally, the afternoon proved tougher. On tired legs, with the pressure of sealing a maiden Strokeplay victory Buckley dropped six shots between the seventh and 13, before regrouping superbly to finish the remaining five in even par.
It was a strong marker laid, that ultimately none of the star power behind could chase. Royal Jersey’s Hannah Scriven came closest, but finished two back after an unfortunately double-bogey at the par-4 17th.
“After having a really good round in the morning, it’s difficult to keep it going and stay mentally tough,” said Buckley. “There are thoughts of how everyone else is doing, so it’s hard to fully focus on your shots. “But I kept trying to keep calm and swing smooth and get round.”
“Thankfully it was enough come the end. There were times where I struggled in the afternoon round, but I just tried to move on from that and just try to think about the next shot.”
For Buckley, her biggest title in local golf has shifted her mindset, with sights firmly set on continuing her form into the rest of the campaign.
“To win a competition like this, it makes me realise that I’m kind of in there with the best players in Jersey, which is a really nice feeling. It’s some validation for me personally that the hard work has started to pay off.
“I’ve come back from university and really wanted to take this year to focus on my golf and to see that reflected with a win is great. It’s given me that added drive to look forward to the Jersey Amateur Championship with the belief that I can compete and win.”
Jersey Golf’s co-president Juanita Adlington was delighted to see two younger members of the golf community claim the top prizes.
“To see such a big turnout, especially in the men’s draw is fantastic for Jersey Golf. For us, to have two younger players win, it really shows the depth of the sport on the Island, with many juniors also showing that they can compete with the best.”
“Charlie’s scores were simply outstanding, while Lily showed a lot of character to hold in together for her first win.”
