By Hamish Stuart
England’s Harry Malin shot a final round 67 to clinch the Welsh Open Youths Championship at Creigiau near Cardiff.
Pyle and Kenfig’s Sean David was the top Welsh performer in tied fourth, with Isaac Jones of Oswestry in tied 10th.
England’s Charlotte Brook was the top female performer in tied 18th, while Newport’s Lottie Raymond was the top Welsh female, her second round 68 among the best scores of the weekend.
Bognor Regis’s Malin, aged 17, had the best final round of the top six players, which took him past Rotherham’s Jack Whaley and Frilford Heath’s Luke Perkins who finished second and third respectively.
“It was good fun out there, really enjoyable” said Malin after his win. “I just played to my strengths, my long irons were really good which was important on such a challenging course where you had to keep it straight.
“It is the sort of course which was better for the better players, you needed to put the ball in the right places and I had to be switched on for the whole round.
“This is my first big win, I have been knocking on the door for so long it was great to finish it off.”
Malin is heading for Hutchinson College in Kansas in August for the next stage of his golfing journey.
Watch the final round highlights of Welsh Open Youth’s Championship at Creigiau Golf Club.
Congratulations to our new champion, Harry Malin.
View the final leaderboard 👉 https://t.co/9ozPCdBaX4
📷 Eades Studio pic.twitter.com/sx08z0tG1J
— Wales Golf | Golff Cymru (@wales_golf) May 28, 2023
Wales Golf Competitions Manager Christian Askins paid tribute to Creigiau Golf Club for the way they staged the event.
“The course was in excellent condition and the club really pushed the boat out to make this a top quality event for many of the best youth players in the UK and Europe,” he said.
“The staff and volunteers did a top job and there was plenty of quality golf to admire. Congratulations to Harry for coming through the field on the last day to beat a quality field.”