Strokeplay Championship 26

ARMY GOLF ASSOCIATION

WWW.ARMYGOLF.CO.UK

STROKEPLAY CHAMPIOSHIP 18 - 20 MAY 26‌ LITTLE ASTON GC

Following three years in the “wilderness”, the

the sponsors and supporters of the AGA,

Strokeplay Championship returned to its

without whom events such as these would

favoured course at Little Aston Golf Club. I am

not be possible.

sure the feeling is the same, although on a slightly different scale, but the drive through

So, with ‌a full field of 72 golfers with

the estate to the automatic gates at Little

handicaps ranging from +3.7 to 8.3, almost

Aston GC and then the first sight of the

everyone took the opportunity to play the

manicured putting green in front of the

practice round, given that it had been three

clubhouse

years since the competition was last hosted

are

very

similar

to

those

experienced by the top golfers returning to a

at Little Aston.

Masters or Open venue. It is the feeling that you are home and inspired to play your best

Round one started early, with low cloud,

golf. With its tight fairways and a mix of

slight drizzle and a definite nip in the air. This

heather, long rough and trees, together with

was particularly difficult to accept as it

the additional bunkers that protect the

followed a spell of very unseasonably hot

course on almost every shot, the premium

weather across the UK. The quality of the

was on accuracy. Measuring 6,717 yards from

field remained high, with the top golfers

the Championship tees, this parkland course

from across the Army ready to take to the

was always going to provide one of the

course on round one. The only downside was

sternest tests of golf that our elite golfers

that the reigning Champion, Lt Adam Stone

would experience this year.

RE, was deployed overseas and therefore unable to defend his title.

We welcomed two of our new sponsors to the event, Josh Edwards from PE, himself an elite

As the early groups set off, it became evident

golfer with a handicap of +1, and Mark Howell

that the course was going to prove a stern

from Censys, also a tidy golfer playing off 5. It

test for every player in the field. As the round

was a pleasure to host them both for a day

one scores came in, the usual players were

and

the

grouped inside the top 20 places. At the top

Championship was sufficiently enjoyable that

of the leaderboard was ex-Army player Capt

they will return next year. Our thanks go to all

Danny

we

hope

that

their

visit

to

Saunders

AGC(RMP),

making

a

comeback after several years away since leaving the Army and joining the Reserves, with a credible two over round of 74. He was followed

by

a

stream

of

players,

each

separated by a single shot, all the way down to the 18th-ranked player on 80. LCpl Graeme Torrie RE, Mr Ryan Wootton, Capt Jordan Aird RLC, Sgt Glen Watt RAC, WO2 Adam Hayward RA, SSgt Matthew Bruce-Smith AGC(SPS), Capt Sanjeev Rai R Sigs, Maj Neil Williams RA and WO2 Kerry Roberts RA led the way in the Maj Neil Williams RA

top 10.

Round two started in a similar fashion, with the rough and the stiffening breeze causing problems for those missing the fairways.

Scoring remained consistent, with the top 20 players all scoring 80 or better. The round one leader dropped off the pace, leaving Torrie to climb to the top, closely followed by Aird and Williams N, all between 71 and 73 shots. Other notable climbers were the Army Men's Captain, Capt Scott Dickinson Inf, Mr Ben Churchill and our Chair, Brig Kieran Sheldon RA, all carding a credible 79.

As day one drew to a close, the usual suspects held their nerve, demonstrating impressive consistency. Torrie led the field on 146 with rounds of 75 and an excellent 71. In

WO2 Chris Kelly RAC

second place, just three shots back, was Aird with rounds of 76 and 73. Watt sat in third

second. All that said, Watt looked to have a

place following an opening 77, backed up

commanding six-shot lead going into the

with a 74 to move up the leaderboard on 151,

final round.

level with Wootton, while Williams N sat one shot further back on 152.

In

the

first

round

of

the

Stableford

competition, which offered an opportunity to Day two and round three started under early

regroup and start afresh for those who had

morning

not

cloud

and

cooler

conditions

made

the

cut

in

the

Strokeplay

following the previous evening's rain. The top

competition,

37 made the cut and qualified through to day

challenge even as the weather improved.

two, with the 30 moving into the Stableford

Scores after the first round reflected the

competition. Five players withdrew between

difficulty of the course and demonstrated

day one and day two for various reasons. In

that course management was key to success.

the Strokeplay competition, it was no surprise

The top five were separated by only 3pts, with

to see seven Army Team players occupying

Capt Mark Nowosielski R Sigs leading the

the final three flights. However, the positions

pack on 37pts, followed by Mr Glyn Hannah

at the top of the leaderboard continued to

on 36pts, LCpl Elliot Homewood RE and LBdr

change as the morning scores were returned.

Craig Cowie RA on 35pts, and SSgt James

Watt produced an excellent round of 70 to

Stafford RE on 34pts. Only 13 players scored

move into the lead. The overnight leader,

30pts or better.

the

course

remained

a

Torrie, dropped out of contention with a round three score of 81. Aird, who had been in

In the final round of the main Strokeplay

second place at the end of day one, slipped to

competition, the course was taking its toll on

third‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌78,‌ ‌while‌ ‌Wootton‌ ‌moved‌ ‌into

most if not all of the players.

Little Aston had once again shown its teeth and posed a real challenge for even the most seasoned golfer. Three players posted a strong one over 73, followed by three posting 74, one on 75 and three more on 76. However, with Watt starting the final round with a sixshot lead, the Championship was his to lose.

That proved not to be the case, as a final round of 73 saw him finish nine shots clear of his closest challenger. Although he was

Capt Jordan Aird RLC

unaware of his advantage as he came up the closing stretch, he completed the four rounds

rounds of 83-67-74-71, was Cpl Jonathan

on a credible 294 with scores of 77-74-70-73.

McManus Int Corps, playing off 7.

In second place was Bruce-Smith on 303,

To close, our thanks go to the Club Captain

followed one shot back by Torrie in third on

and the committee, to the General Manager,

304, left to rue two indifferent rounds.

Iain Burns, and his team, and to the Course

Wootton and Aird finished two shots further

Manager for presenting the course in such

back on 306.

outstanding condition. Finally, our thanks go to all the members of Little Aston Golf Club Stableford

for giving up their course for the three days.

competition, finding a level of consistency

Such was the success of the event, and the

would always be the key. However, after two

manner in which the AGA was welcomed by

days of hard work and concentration around

the club, that we hope to return in years to

the Little Aston course, that was never going

come. A final special thanks must also go to

to be easy. Once again, the course won the

all the AGA officials for the work they do

day, with only Hannah scoring better than

during the event and in the days and weeks

par

beforehand to ensure we have a full field of

In

the

with

final

a

round

credible

of

the

39pts.

SSgt

Sam

Shrubsole REME and Mr Leighton Davies

players and that everything runs smoothly.

shared second place, four points back on 35pts, with Stafford, Sgt Aidi Bennett R Sigs

Looking

ahead

and Maj Gyan Dhenga Inf one further point

Championship will return to Belton Park Golf

behind on 34pts. As the round drew to a

Club over the period 17 – 19 May 27. AGA

close, only Hannah managed to score level

members should note that this is a mixed

par pts or better across the two rounds, with

competition open to all members of the AGA.

scores of 36 and 39 respectively, giving him

With the field limited to 72 players, everyone

victory by 7pts on 75pts from Stafford and

interested

Nowosielski on 68pts.

handicap, is encouraged to enter. Entry forms

in

to

2027,

playing,

the

Strokeplay

whatever

their

will be available on the website in early 2027.

In the Nett competition, Churchill was unable

Any queries should be directed to the AGA

to defend last year's title, finishing in 8th

Office

place this year. The 2026 winner, on‌ ‌295‌ ‌with

aga@armygolf.co.uk.

on

01252

787078

or

Handicap Champion Cpl Jonathan McManus Int Corps

Strokeplay Champion Sgt Glen Watt RAC

Senior Winner Mr Ryan Wootton

Runner-Up SSgt Matthew Bruce-Smith AGC(SPS)

Stableford Handicap Winner Mr Glyn Hannah

RESULTS Strokeplay Champion

Sgt Glen Watt RAC 294

Runner-Up

SSgt Matthew Bruce-Smith AGC(SPS) 303

Handicap Champion

Cpl Jonathan McManus Int Corps 295

Senior Winner

Mr Ryan Wootton 306 OCB

Stableford Handicap Winner

Mr Glyn Hannah 75pts