McKenna is crowned CI champion at just 17

Conor McKenna has become the youngest Guernsey player to be crowned Channel Islands men’s champion.

Conor McKenna on his way to becoming the youngest Guernsey player to win the Men's Channel Islands Championship title. (Picture by Gareth Le Prevost, 33459779)

In an extraordinary performance from the 17-year-old, he won the title emphatically as he defeated four-times winner Matthew Parkman 8 & 7 at L’Ancresse over the weekend.

‘I’m really pleased,’ said a smiling McKenna, basking in the sunshine yesterday at his home club.

‘Going into the weekend, I thought it was going to be very close, and I thought it might come down to the 36th, but as I wanted to, I came out of the gates on the Saturday and got my 6 up lead, which gave me a lot of confidence coming out this morning.’

Parkman had never previously lost a CI final, but the Guernsey teenager put him to the sword with a brilliant display, particularly in Saturday’s first round when the young Sarnian opened up a six-hole overnight lead.

McKenna played those 18 holes in approximately three-under-par gross as he holed out with impressive efficiency while his opponent struggled on the greens, taking 37 putts for the round.

The junior emphasised afterwards that the key to his victory had been his short game.

‘I got up and down seven times in the first round, so that was kind of like a killer blow,’ McKenna said.

‘He didn’t have his best day putting, but I putted really well over the two rounds, and that’s the difference in match play.’

The all-junior Women’s CI Championship final turned out to be a much closer affair with home teenager Chloe Gaudion involved in a real ding-dong battle with Anabelle Lucas-Villar, who was 3 up at the halfway stage but found herself trailing going into the back nine of the second round after a terrific fightback from the Sarnian.

Chloe Gaudion hits an approach shot watched by Anabelle Lucas-Villar in the all-junior CI women's final. (Picture by Gareth Le Prevost, 33459728)

The pair continued to exchange holes, but the Jersey teenager managed to edge ahead with two holes to play and then made an excellent birdie on the 35th to clinch a 2 & 1 win.

The senior titles were shared, too, with Di Aitchison winning the over-55 women’s crown 4 & 2 against Brona Lambert while Jeremy Phillips came from 4 down to beat Daniel Griggs 1 up.

Guernsey’s Jill Pritchard won the ladies’ bronze title with a 6 & 4 win over Susan Thomas.