Wills finds a way to lift first Cheshire Boys title

Jul 31 2007 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

ADAM WILLS made the long haul from Devon to Cheshire all the more worthwhile by taking the county’s Boys Championship for the first time.

The Sandiway golfer travelled north after finishing fourth in the Carris Trophy down at Staunton Golf Club.

The 17-year-old from Tarporley returned 67,71 for a winning total of 138, two shots ahead of Martin Leese (Astbury), who had two solid rounds of 70 for a final score of 140.

Third place went to Josh Sims (Caldy), who had also made the long trip from Devon to Delamere Forest Golf Club after finishing 12th in the 72-hole Carris Trophy. The Cheshire Boys captain returned 73,71 for 144 to pip Bromborough’s Richard Fitzgerald on a card play-off.

Fourteen years-old Oliver Carr (Heswall) won the nett prize with fine scores of 70,77=147, less a combined handicap of eight for 139 nett. His gross score was fifth best on the day.

Wills had endured the best and the worst of it at Staunton where his early start on day one saw him enjoy the most benign conditions to emerge as the early front-runner with a fine four under par 67. Wills was in the first match out at 7.30am.

“I didn’t mind being out first. There was little wind, the course was in pristine order and conditions were good for scoring,” he admitted.

However as tournament conditions deteriorated Wills slipped back behind eventual winner Matt Haines, from Kent, who claimed his second major junior title in three months.

His success in the Boys Under 18 Stroke Play Championship for the Carris Trophy followed his victory in the McEvoy Trophy in April.

A closing round of 74 as the wind and the rain descended on Staunton left Haines on 288, four over par, two strokes ahead of Bristol’s Chris Lloyd, who also closed with 74, and four clear of Northumberland’s Garrick Porteous, who shot 77.

Haines began the final day two strokes adrift of Lloyd but a morning 74 in atrocious conditions of driving rain and gale force winds left the 17 years-old from Chatham two in front. Although the rain relented in the afternoon, the wind intensified and made scoring just as difficult. In fact, only 11 of the 45-strong field broke 300 and there were plenty of returns in the 80s.

Wills shot 79,76 on the final day to share fourth place on 296 with new England boy captain Jack Hiluta, who returned 77.

After leading following the first round Wills fell back in far trickier conditions with a 74, which wasn’t helped by a double bogey six at the first hole. But the Cheshire county player struck back to stay in contention, covering the back nine in level par.

Sims had rounds of 68,77,80,75 for 300 while Formby Hall’s Tommy Fleetwood returned 69,77,76,77 for 299 and a share of ninth place.

The Lancashire player from Southport helped England II finish second in the Nations Cup, won by two shots by England I.

Next year’s Cheshire Boys Championship takes place at Wallasey GC on July 22-24.