ROSIE BELSHAM EQUALS SLALEY HALL COURSE RECORD EN ROUTE TO FALDO SERIES WIN

(Northumberland, UK – 24^th July 2020) Local North East junior golfer and England Girls squad member, Rosie Belsham, has won the Faldo Series England North East Championship,after a dominating display and wire-to-wire win saw her rewarded with an invite to Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club, Abu Dhabi for the Grand Final in November.

Despite only being created two weeks ago to provide juniors in Scotland and the North East a competitive opportunity, an impressive field of 103 competitors assembled from up and down the country to face the tough conditions on the Slaley Hall Hunting course in Northumberland. Its dense pines and notoriously intricate layout punish wayward shots and dutifully brand the course the ‘Augusta of the North’.

A parkland/moorland Dave Thomas masterpiece, the Hunting course is widely recognised by the European Tour, having hosted the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke at the Great North Open on six occasions.

The course, accompanied by the typically wild North East’s conditions, proved a testing challenge, however despite the wind and rain it was the Girls who prevailed as they claimed the tournament’s top three spots and posting the only under par scores on the final leader board.

Well-rehearsed for North East golf, it was Rosie Belsham of Whitley Bay Golf Club who led from the front after equalling the course record -5 under (70) on Day 1. Carrying her form into the following rounds the highly tipped junior subsequent 72 and 73 concluded the tournament, and the U21s category, to win by three shots at -10 under par. Whilst U16 champion, Zara Naughton, stormed the category by 5 shots after also equalling the course record 70 on day 2 to affirm her impressive second place in the final overall tournament standings.

Following her final round, England North East Championship winner Rosie Belsham said: “I really played well this week, especially in the bad weather it was important that I stuck to my game plan. The pins were in tricky spots, so I was concentrating on two putts and moving on. This is my first Faldo Series event and I have really enjoyed playing in a national competition so close to home, and then to win on my Series debut is amazing! I was lucky enough to be on Team Hall at the Major Champions Invitational, so to meet Sir Nick again at Al Ain and learn from his clinics is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Elsewhere in the Boys categories a tight competition witnessed a dramatic conclusion, with English junior James Nash topping the U21s category (+8) despite a final round 80 disrupting two fantastic level par performances. With Charlie Roper (+7) and Daniel Bullen (+5) rounding up the Boys category winners for the U18s and U16s, respectively.

Matthew Faldo, Director of the Faldo Series, said: “It has been great to bring the Faldo Series back to the North East and we want to thank the team here at Slaley Hall for welcoming the Series, especially given the event was only added to the schedule in the last couple of weeks. The course was in terrific condition and proved a great test with typical North East weather – it certainly was a real battle for the Series players.

“Congratulations to Rosie on her win after showing fantastic resilience throughout the event and to Zara too, both producing exceptional golfing displays and to equal the course record is quite remarkable. Also, to James, Charlie and Daniel for their success, and we look forward to seeing them battle it out at Al Ain come November.”

The Faldo Series team and Slaley Hall staff had gone above and beyond to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all players and staff at the event remained uncompromised upon their return, with sanitisation stations, social distancing and reduced touch points implemented and signed throughout the event. Players continued to use the Faldo Series app to complete all scoring.

The Faldo Series Europe schedule will continue over the coming weeks, with the Series moving overseas for the Ireland Championship at Glasson Golf Club, County Westmeath on the 27^st July.

Leading final scores and qualifiers from the Faldo Series England North East Championship:

Girls’ Under-21:

Rosie Belsham -10

Julia Kerrigan +10

Ella Mason +11

Girls’ U16:

Zara Naughton -7

Rachel Gourley -2

Grace Crawford +7

Boys’ Under-21:

James Nash +8

Joseph Robson +10