Hot-shot golfer Ed Stephenson blasted his way to a nine shot victory to complete a hat-trick of wins in Leighton Buzzard golf club’s Junior Championships in his final qualifying year.
Now 18 years of age and a two-handicap golfer, Ed completed his two rounds of the Plantation Road course in a gross 149 shots, to beat runner-up Tyler Crosta by a comfortable margin.
The current Captain of Leighton’s Junior Section, Ed will be ineligible for next years’ championship, leaving the field open to 14-year old brother George to keep the title in the Stephenson household. George finished third this year and was runner-up for the junior Handicap trophy won by George Wooster on countback after both players carded nett 142.
Just days after being dethroned as Club champion after losing out to Jamie Stone by two shots in a thrilling tussle, Ed bounced back in fine style to end his years as a junior golfer.
In the decade since taking up golf, Ed has honed his skills playing at Leighton where he has been coached by club professional Maurice Campbell. He has won numerous Leighton team and individual trophy competitions, played County matches for Bedfordshire and South East schools and teamed up with Vandyke Upper School colleagues Brandon Waddington and Andres Valentine, all members of the Leighton club that won the English Schools team championship two years ago.
Earlier this year, Ed was named at the first winner of Leighton and Linslade Sports Council Achiever of the Year award. His father Adrian, a former Captain of the Leighton club, is junior organisor and a director on the club management committee.
Leighton’s Junior Handicap champion George Wooster is a 14-year-old student at Cedars Upper school. Playing off a handicap of 22, George completed his second round in a nett 68 to win the Handicap trophy.
Brother Henry and parents Richard and Kate, are also keen golfers and members of the Leighton club, Henry, who plays off a handicap of 16, finished his two rounds with a nett 160.
PICTURE CAPTION:
[] Leighton club Captain Simon Rossiter with (left to right), Handicap trophy winner George Wooster, junior organisor Adrian Stephenson and sons Ed and George.
[] Champions….Handicap trophy winner George Wooster and triple Junior club champion Ed Stephenson.