Yorkshire golf: Balby Academy's A and B teams sweep into British Schools and Colleges finals

GARFORTH'S Laura Morrison has helped move Balby Academy of Sport through six rounds of qualifying and into the national final of the British Schools and Colleges League.
BalbyAcademy of Sport's Laura Morrison.BalbyAcademy of Sport's Laura Morrison.
BalbyAcademy of Sport's Laura Morrison.

Eighteen-year-old Morrison, who plays off three and is lady captain at Balby, was part of a triumphant A team that won its sixth-round match at Newark to make it through to the national finals at Trevose in Cornwall in May.

She was one of five Balby players who managed to secure a spot in the top eight and qualify automatically for the finals, the others being Nathan Fell, Aaron Nairn, Luke Palmowski and Greg Denton.

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The A team scores for the final round were Fell (Lindrick, +1) 71; Denton (Lindrick, scratch) 74; Nairn (Rotherham, 1) 73; Palmowski (Hickleton, 1) 74; and Morrison (Garforth, 3) 74.

Their scores won the gross competition and with it the top qualifying position in the league.

Morrison said: “I am proud to have represented Balby Academy of Sport and won through to the national finals.

“We’re really looking forward to the trip to Cornwall and, hopefully, we can return with the winners’ trophy.”

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The Academy’s B team scores were also highly competitive in their quest to qualify as net champions.

Tom Guttridge (Edlington) was on the borderline for making the order of merit top eight, finishing ninth. However, as there was a girl in the top eight, he also qualified for the finals as an individual.

The B team scores, all net, were Tom Guttridge (Rotherham, 6) 70; Jordan Forbes (Doncaster, 5) 80; Kieron Doyle (Rotherham, 10) 71; Harry Emmingham (Birley, 12) 68; and Daniel Brown (Retford, 12) 76.

Their performance was good enough to secure runners-up position in the league net competition and confirm their finals place because the A team were both gross and net league champions, so the second-placed net team qualified.

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Balby will take 12 players to the national finals and head teacher, John Innes, said: "This is the first time we have managed this number and I’d like to congratulate the players and also our staff for their support and encouragement.

“To battle through six rounds is some achievement and they deserve their trip to Cornwall. They have done the academy proud and we look forward to supporting them in the national finals in May.”

The Academy is looking for an individual or company interested in sponsoring the elite squad.

Anyone who wants more details on this, or on joining the academy, should contact Ian Lindley at [email protected] or call on 01302 312140.

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