TWO ends of the golfing spectrum collide at L’Ancresse tomorrow, as Jersey’s Matthew Parkman sets his sights on a fifth Channel Island crown, while Sarnian teenager Conor McKenna eyes success on debut.
The Guernsey links plays host to five Channel Island finals in total, with the men’s and ladies’ championships contested over 36 holes across Saturday and Sunday, while the respective men’s and ladies’ senior championships and the ladies’ bronze final are over 18 holes on Sunday.
Parkman boasts the staggering record on winning on all four occasions that he has reached the CI final – first in 2006 and most recently in 2019.
Looking back to his very best, the Royal Jersey stalwart claimed a rare Jersey matchplay and strokeplay double this campaign and looks primed for the 36-hole battle against McKenna.
The Sarnian – one of many talented juniors off the Sarnian production line in recent years – has also enjoyed a remarkable season, mirroring Parkman’s feat of claiming Guernsey’s strokeplay event, while edging past Jeremy Nicolle in a 41-hole thriller for his maiden Guernsey Island crown.
Parkman said: “Having been fortunate enough to have been in four of these finals and won all four, I’m just going to try and enjoy myself really.
“I have played a fair few courses away from home this year, including Sunningdale, North Berwick and Kilmarnock (Barassie), all of which are tough tracks.
“Playing away helps you refocus.
“It’s easy to get stuck in auto pilot at your home course and I think the challenges those courses presented will stand me in good stead for the weekend.
“I have really enjoyed my golf this year.
“Playing with a smile on my face and I think it says a lot.
“That attitude has bled into the results and I will just aim to carry on having fun in this final.
“It’s nice that we have lots of finals going on at the same time, so there is a good group of us making the journey across.
“I’m sure everyone will fly the Jersey flag with pride.”
Meanwhile, in the ladies’ final, a pair of talented teenagers line up in the shape of Jersey’s Anabelle Lucas-Villar and Guernsey’s Chloe Gaudion.
The Caesarean has enjoyed a strong season, laying claim to both the junior and ladies’ island crowns, beating Oliver Allchin comprehensively last weekend to win the former.
But it was victory at La Moye last month against recently crowned ladies’ senior champion Brona Lambert that earned Lucas-Villar a shot at the CI title against a familiar opponent.
Gaudion (also 17), much like the Caesarean, has been rewarded with a call-up to the Hampshire Golf set-up, as both continue to highlight the strength not only in local ladies’ golf, but junior golf too.
Either way a brand new CI champion will be named come the conclusion of the 36-hole match on Sunday, with both débutantes eager to etch their name onto the most prestigious trophy in local golf.
Lucas-Villar said: “It’s a great feeling winning both the ladies and junior titles in the same year.
“I’m really excited to compete for the ladies’ title this weekend as well as the junior one in the coming weeks.
“L’Ancresse is a course I really like and enjoy playing.
“We were able to play four rounds there for the Island Games in 2023, so I feel like I know the course well.
“Chloe has been playing well lately, so I’m sure it’ll be a fun match.”
Meanwhile, La Moye’s Jeremy Philips is set to take on Daniel Griggs for the men’s senior title, as Brona Lambert, also of La Moye, will face Di Aitchison for the ladies’ senior crown.
Jersey’s Sue Thomas and Jill Pritchard are set to contest the ladies’ bronze final.
2024 Channel Island Finals
Men – Matthew Parkman vs Conor McKenna (36 holes)
Ladies – Anabelle Lucas-Villar vs Chloe Gaudion (36 holes)
Men’s Senior – Jeremy Philips vs Daniel Griggs (18 holes)
Ladies’ Senior – Brona Lambert vs Di Aitchison (18 holes)
Ladies’ Bronze – Sue Thomas vs Jill Pritchard (18 holes)
