AIDEN WILSON claimed his maiden Junior Channel Island Championship title with a 1up victory over Guernsey’s Josh Neville at L’Ancresse yesterday .
“Nerve-wracking doesn’t even describe it,” said a jovial Wilson after a roller-coaster of a weekend.
Wilson beat defending Jersey Junior champion Jacob Townsend to book his spot in last weekend’s CI Junior Final, but faced a brutal test on away soil.
On his first CI finals away from home, he said: “It was a really good experience away from home. It was tough, horrible really, but I managed to get the result I wanted.”
The match will go down as an absolute classic.
Wilson established a slim but deserved 2up lead after Saturday’s opening 18 holes.
However, Sarnian Neville produced some excellent gold to reduce the deficit on Sunday and take the final down to the 36th hole.
Showing championship quality and a respectable amount of bottle under pressure, Wilson held his nerve to win the hole and seal the title.
“It was really tiring, it’s a lot of grinding over 36 holes,” he added.
“Over 18 holes you can afford to play a lot less conservative, but over 36 you have to change the way you approach it, especially going into Sunday 2up.
“It was a weird feeling all weekend, knowing that we had the second day to come. It was hard at times to know whether to attack or defend.
“But I feel I managed that balance really well and I was so happy to get the win on the final hole.”
With the senior inter insular coming up soon, Wilson is hopeful he may have barged his way into contention.
“Hopefully! I think I’ve had a good enough season to try rival some of the better more experienced players, so fingers crossed it all goes well and I can make that team.”
Elsewhere across the weekend, the three other Jersey competitors suffered defeats in their respective finals.
All three of Sam Quail, Melissa McMahon and Jeremy Phillips headed into their Men’s, Ladies and Senior finals respectively as defending champions – but each left empty handed.
Quail was defeated by Jeremy Nicolle 2&1, McMahon was beaten by teenager Chloe Gaudion 3&1 and Phillips – who was searching for a hat-trick of titles – was bested also on the final hole by Bobby Eggo.
A report on all four finals to follow in the JEP.
