Chedhomme books his place at Junior European Open
A SURPRISE arrival through the post has turned a dream into reality for Ollie Chedhomme.
The lowest-handicap player in Guernsey is following in the footsteps of Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose and Luke Donald having qualified for the Junior European Open Champions Week Final, sponsored by Sky Sports, which will take place in February in Spain.
The 17-year-old took part in two regional events in England over half-term, but thought he had come up just short in both until after he had returned home.
‘I never expected it – I just opened the post and thought “wow”,’ Chedhomme said. ‘It was nice to finish off the year on that note.’
It was thanks to finishing third in the Lingfield Park qualifier having carded a 79 on his first visit to the course that he qualified, four days after having missed out by a single shot at The Wiltshire.
‘We were going to have a practice round the day before, but I had a Hampshire U18 match, so I was playing it blind and it was quite a tricky course,’ said Chedhomme of his day at Lingfield Park, where his father Christophe caddied for him.
‘I started off slowly on the front nine, but on the back nine I recovered well.
‘We were told that the top two would go through, so it was a bit annoying to come third at the time and it came as a nice surprise to find out I had qualified.
‘We just went away to try and play a few different events and thought that if I qualified it would be amazing, if not it would still be a good experience anyway.’
The plus-three handicapper will being joining over 100 of the finest junior golfers in Europe at Champions Final Week which comprises a scratch competition played over five rounds with a cut after 72 holes.
The event is played over two courses – Alcaidesa Links and Alcaidesa Heathland.
The tournament, which is in its 29th year, will be covered by Sky Sports.
‘My off-season will no longer be happening – now it’s going to be practice for Spain,’ said Chedhomme, who will be playing in the local winter league with former Island champion Jeremy Nicolle.
‘I have been around that area before, but never been to Alcaidesa – as long as it’s warm and sunny it will make the golf a lot easier.’
