JERSEY’S senior and junior golf squads will go head to head with Guernsey this weekend as the inter-insulars arrive at La Moye Golf Club.
The action begins on Saturday afternoon, with the Junior Fourballs teeing off at 12.30pm, before the final singles tee time at 9.35am on Sunday.
Bob Wickings will captain Jersey’s senior side, while Aiden Wilson leads the junior team as the Island looks to make the most of home advantage.
Jersey Golf president Juanita Adlington is confident in both teams’ chances, although she knows Guernsey will provide a stern test.
“Home-course advantage does make a difference, so I have high hopes for this weekend for both our teams,” she said.
“Guernsey are tough opposition no matter where you are playing. They certainly won’t go down without a fight.”
After what has been the hottest Jersey summer on record, the Island’s greenkeepers have faced a difficult few months keeping the course in top condition.
Adlington, however, is pleased with how La Moye has come through the challenging weather.
“The greenkeepers have had a really tough year and they’ve had to work really hard,” she said.
“The greens have been spectacular all year. We’ve worked really hard to keep the tees and greens up to standard and, more importantly, the fairways have come back really quickly.”
The hot weather has also created difficult playing conditions throughout the summer, with the dry fairways offering a different test for the players.
“The fairways were really brown at one stage, but that’s kind of links golf,” said Adlington.“But the course condition is spectacular. I think we’ll see some great golf this weekend.”
Jersey’s senior side is well accustomed to the challenges of La Moye, with eight of the ten competitors being members of the club.
“There are only two Royal Jersey members in the senior side, Steve Bowen and Phil Evans,” Adlington said.
“It ebbs and flows between the clubs, and this year it is just heavily La Moye-based, which is quite an advantage.
“It’s a strong senior team. Jeremy Phillips is in both the senior and the men’s side, which shows the strength and depth in there.”
Adlington was also quick to praise the direction of junior golf on the island, although selecting the team was far from straightforward.
“Junior golf has come on leaps and bounds and it was a really tough decision,” she said.
“The Guernsey junior team are very strong as well. Junior golf in the Channel Islands is in a healthy place, and I expect the standard of golf to be really high.”
Wilson has enjoyed an impressive season, becoming both the Junior Channel Island champion and Royal Jersey champion, while earning a place in the men’s team for next weekend.
Jacob Townsend is another youngster who will feature this weekend before joining the men’s island squad next week.
“We’re seeing a lot more youngsters playing golf – not so many young ladies, but definitely younger men,” Adlington said.
“That’s our next step with Jersey Golf, to try and work on junior girls because that’s an area where we definitely have the fewest number playing golf.”
Adlington is also encouraging spectators to head down to La Moye and watch what she expects to be a high-calibre weekend of golf.
“Any spectators are welcome to come up. It will be a great standard of golf for two small islands.”
Jersey’s Senior Men Island Team: Simon Allchin, Steven Bowen, Phillip Evans, Peter Garnier, Mark Hesford, Paul Horgan, George Kean, Grant McGregor, Jeremy Phillips, Bob Wickings (C) Reserve: Mick Le Feuvre
Jersey’s Junior Island Team: William Aikenhead, Benjamin Carnegia Bedlow, Oliver Bourke, Ben Carvalho, Bertie Lee, Rafael Leonard, Yiannis Sokrati, Jacob Townsend, Aiden Wilson (C), Henry Zeala Reserve: Oliver Brown
