Southerndown’s Brodi Lewis became the first home winner of the Welsh Open Youth Championship for four years, in a Welsh double with Pennard’s Rebecca Del Sol-Gonzalez the top female.
Lewis made the most of good conditions at Newport Golf Club, in Gwent, to open with a 66, holding off the English challenge from Ezra Hartland, Dominic Harrington and George Cooper who finished second, third and fourth.
Lewis, who is studying at Odessa College in Texas, finished seven under par with a crucial up and down from a difficult position on the 17th allowing him to finish one shot clear of the field.
The wins also bring Lewis and Del Sol-Gonzalez places in the Faldo Junior Tour European Grand Final in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.There was a strong Welsh challenge with Oswestry’s Isaac Jones in fifth, Bargoed’s Ryan Williams in ninth while Del Sol-Gonzalez was tied tenth overall in the mixed competition.
The Pennard golfer came into this event straight off the back of Junior Vagliano training for the Great Britain and Ireland preliminary squad at host course The Island in Ireland, ahead of final team selection in August.
“It feels amazing, I’m very happy to have done something with my game now,” said Lewis.
“I can’t complain because obviously I won, but you had to pay attention to how other people were playing and used that to the best of my advantage which helped me score better.
“This week I had no expectation other than trying to do that for myself, and that is what is best for me.
“After the Welsh Team Championships with Southerndown, if we qualify, I will be back to the United States, a plane to Dallas and then Midland.
“Playing in the Faldo Series in Abu Dhabi is awesome as well, I get to leave America a little earlier in the off season to go and play in that event.
“My season does not end until December now which feels amazing.”
Wales Golf Competition Manager Dan Fulllager added, “Congratulations to Brodi, his first round of 66 was the joint low round of the week and that set the platform to go on and win.
“Also Rebecca was impressively consistent all week and it was a strong showing from her. A special mention also for Isaac and Ryan who had a 69 and a 70 respectively on the final day to move up the leaderboard.
“Thanks to all the staff and volunteers at Newport, the course was in fabulous condition and they all helped to make the event a great success.”
Next up for the Wales Golf competitions team is the PING Welsh Junior Tour event at Trefloyne near Tenby on June 6.
