Champion Jardine could make junior island team

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Thomas Jardine produced two quality rounds to claim the La Grande Mare men's strokeplay championship. The 17-handicap won by two shots from Keith Batiste and Chris Walker, having added a second-round best to his overnight 64.

The youngster has been making steady progress since taking up the game seriously two years ago.

He plays twice a week alongside father Alastair and said that, as he had regularly bettered his handicap, he was quite confident coming into the tournament.

The only time his challenge wavered was on the very first hole of the second round.

'I thinned my tee-shot into the rough and ended up taking an eight.'

Eleven over at the turn, he knew he had to improve on the inward nine and did just that, coming back in four over, two under his handicap.

He was helped by a fine birdie at the 12th where, following a long drive, he rolled in a 40ft putt.

'I'd like to think I could get down to single figures,' said the youngster who, if he continues to make progress, could yet challenge for a place in the 2006 island junior team.

No La Grande Mare junior has ever achieved that.

Bruce Currie had led the way after day one, shooting a 61 to lead Walker by one.

But a second-round 71 put paid to his chances and he finished outside the top 10.

Neil Black underlined his position as the club's best player by easing his way to the scratch title.

The Irishman shot rounds of 67 and 66 to win by a massive 10 shots from playing partner Roland Mills.

Black was delighted that his father, over on holiday, was there to see it and caddie for him after a period of disappointing form.

'I was quite pleased. It was nice to put in two decent rounds,' said the 2003 club champion.

'The last nine, I came back in one under gross and it was nice to finish strongly on the last leg, rather than fall over the line.'

On the women's side, Nicola Wallbridge claimed the scratch award and former island netballer Bonnie Evans the club championship.

Wallbridge, who earlier this year became the first female winner of the Charity Classic, finished two shots clear of runner-up Wendy Meerveld.

The 14-handicap took a while to get going and having parred the third, triple-bogeyed the fourth.

She reached the turn in 47, but kept her cool and parred five of the back nine to come home in an altogether more impressive 37.

That put her level with Rose Scott.

On day two, Wallbridge made a decent start, parring three of the first five holes, but triple-bogeyed the third.

Out in 42, she began the back nine well with three pars and a birdie at 11.

A nine at the par-four 14th might have been calamitous on another day, but with Scott having a bad day herself, it did not cost the eventual winner, who recovered her poise to par the next three holes as she came home in 43.

Meerveld lost her chance with a gross 90 on day one, but hit back with a fine 81 which included seven pars.

Evans was four shots off the championship pace after day one, Scott having led with a 65.

A net 65 (84 gross) on day two saw her move well clear of runner-up Jayne Goldborne, while Scott had to settle for fourth.

Four pars and a birdie at the seventh helped Evans on her way.