The 2016 Tenby Junior Open was played on August 31 in conjunction with the Dyfed Junior County Championships at the famous links.

The weather was glorious, the course in excellent condition and the clubhouse overflowing with youngsters, family members and supporters from all four corners of the old county of Dyfed, eagerly awaiting their allotted tee-off times.

The Tenby Junior Open competition was divided into four categories, results as follows :

Group 1, Boys, 0 to 20 handicap - 18 holes White Box Medal: 1. Llew Jones, Glyn Abbey 80-15=65; 2. Harley Holmes, Milford Haven 80-11=69; 3. Bryn Thomas, Cilgwyn 77-6=71. A special mention must be made for Tenby’s Luke Harries who came fourth in this category, shooting an impressive gross 71, playing off ‘scratch’. However, he did win the Dyfed 36-hole competition.

Group 2, Girls, 0 to 36 handicap - 18 holes Red Box Medal: 1. Ffion Evans, Newport Links 75-3=72; 2. Nel Allen, Tenby 109-35=74; 3. Caitlin Freeman, Glyn Abbey 94-16=78. Tenby’s Kasumi Tran was one shot behind in fourth place, some consolation was recording a two on the 17th.

Group 3, Boys, 21 to 28 handicap - 18 holes Yellow Box Stableford: 1. Osian Griffiths, Glyn Abbey 39 pts; 2. Steffan Griffiths, Glyn Abbey 36; 3. Finnan Arthur, Trefloyne 35. All three were playing off a handicap of 28.

Group 4, Mixed - six holes Junior Black Box Modified Stableford: The fewer shots the players take to complete a hole, the more points they earn, regardless of the par indicator on the card. A hole in one will earn 10 points and a score of 10 (maximum allowed) will score one point. A free drop is also allowed from a bunker following two unsuccessful attempts to get out, however the two attempts do count towards the player’s score.

A total of 18 competitors participated in this event. All groups were chaperoned by adult volunteers from Tenby Golf Club, to ensure safety and assist with the rules of this particular format and also the speed of play. Prizes had already been allocated for the first three places, simple enough one would think. However, there was some last minute head scratching and hasty reorganisation after all cards had been handed in, when it was established that there were three players with 27 points and three players with 26. Only six holes had been played, so the countback was over the last three holes, the result being as follows:

1. Rhys Nicholas, Glyn Abbey 27 points (better back three of 17); 2. Lucas Aldred, Milford Haven 27 (better back three of 16); 3. Aiden Aldfed, Milford Haven 27 (better back three of 12).

Following the quickest ever Tenby Junior Section committee meeting, it was agreed that prizes would also be purchased from the Pro Shop and presented to the three players who had come so close to the podium, scoring 26 points each: Rhiannon Lewis, Tycroes; Guto Walters, Cardigan and Sammie Vaughan, Harries, Milford Haven.

Thanks to the catering staff for keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the day. A big thankyou to David Blackmore for his organisation leading up to the competition and for ensuring the whole day ran like clockwork, club captain Gethin Evans, vice-captain Neil Thomas, Rhys Harry - professional, DGU officials and all other Tenby Golf Club members for their assistance on the day and making the event a resounding success.