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It is safe to say that Golf at Wellington College is probably in the strongest place it has ever been, largely due to the exceptionally talented team currently wearing the Wellington crest. One pupil has been making headlines and was recently featured in The Week Junior Magazine after being crowned the 2023 British Speedgolf Champion!
You might hear about the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup in September and October as they are significant golf events. Another championship featuring a different version of the sport has recently made headlines.
The 2023 British Open Speedgolf Championships took place in Berkshire, England. In speedgolf, players swiftly hit their shots, then jog or run to where their ball has landed and complete each hole. These matches are played on full-sized 18-hole courses, similar to regular golf games.
Speedgolf uses only a limited number of golf clubs (instead of the usual 14), which players carry either by hand or in a golf bag. This results in much faster games compared to traditional golf, where players typically spend several hours walking or strolling between the 18 holes they need to finish.
The scoring in speedgolf involves adding the time a player takes to complete the course to the number of shots they make. This year, 14-year-old William Mannering emerged as the junior event champion. He finished the 18 holes in 32 minutes and 32 seconds, taking 68 shots, for a total score of 100.32. Mannering expressed, “It was my first speedgolf tournament. I’ll be back next year to defend my title,” in an interview with The Week Junior.
The women’s champion was Lauren Cupp, who completed the course in 40 minutes with 68 shots, while the men’s winner was Luke Willett, achieving a time of 25 minutes and 39 seconds, with 67 shots.
-The Week, 23 September 2023
William was also part of the under 14 Surrey squad and had played the way through the league, winning every match. Following a battle against BB&O and Sussex at Clandon Regis Golf Club, William’s Surrey team won the league and qualified for the SEG League Championships. As the lowest handicap, William led his squad out on to the course. He won both of his matches 3&2 and 2&1 against tough players.
Many congratulations to William!
