The grand final of the PING Junior Masters took place at Close House last week, when 69 junior golfers from across the UK gathered at the Northumberland venue to compete for end of season honours.
Despite challenging conditions, the juniors showed great resilience to battle 45mph winds and produce a thrillingly close contest, which ended with winners in five of the six categories separated by just three shots. Twelve-year-old Calum Scarrott from Chesterfield Golf Club was crowned overall champion with 34 points, edging out U15 boys’ winner Edward Cummings on countback.
Close House’s attached Touring Professional, Lee Westwood, was instrumental in the early development of the Junior Masters, driven by a vision to grow the game and expand competitive opportunities for passionate young golfers.
“It’s inspiring to see so many talented young golfers competing,” said Westwood. “I’m proud to be involved with the series and to see how it has developed over the past eight years. My thanks go to Close House, PING, and the parents whose continued support has helped nurture the next generation of golfers.”
Jonathan Lupton, managing director at Close House, added: “We’re incredibly proud to carry forward this legacy event, which began when we hosted the 2017 British Masters at the club. Our sincere thanks go to PING for their ongoing support in helping inspire more junior golfers in the game we all love.”
This year’s event once again saw PING provide all the prizes at the grand final, helping to make it a truly memorable experience for the juniors involved. Dave Fanning, PING European Marketing Director, commented: “We’re delighted to support the PING Junior Masters and to play a role in expanding the reach of junior golf. We greatly appreciate the outstanding efforts of the Close House team, who continue to deliver such a fantastic event year after year.”
Qualifying events ran from April to September across eight counties, from Fife to Lincolnshire, giving young golfers valuable competitive experience. As part of the initiative, Close House also provides free coaching to more than 1,200 schoolchildren annually, introducing new players to the game and encouraging lifelong participation.
Age group winners:
Boys U12 winner – Calum Scarrott (Overall Champion) – 34 points
Boys U18 winner – Henry Kyle – 31 points
Girls U18 winner – Poppy Edgar – 24 points
Boys U15 winner – Edward Cummings – 34 points
Girls U15 winner – Niamh Carruthers – 31 points
Girls U12 winner – Phoebe Harrison – 30 points