Two young golfers from Bedford have won a place at the English Schools National Championships after success at the South East Schools competition at Cainhoe Wood Golf Club in Shefford last week (29 May).
18-year old Dillon Basi, who attends Sharnbrook Academy, hit 35 on the final nine in the reduced 27-hole competition to pip Essex’s Tommy Carr by two shots to win the tournament, securing a place at the Woodhall Spa showpiece event.
Joining him is Kimberley College’s Vikram Singh, who squeezes in to the final event courtesy of a top eight finish.
Dillon and Vikram, who are both members at Bedfordshire Golf Club in Stagsden, join a field of 40 at the National Golf Centre to compete for the National Schools title which began in 1978 and has seen former winners go on to prized professional careers on the DP World Tour, (formerly the European Tour).
The top seven in the national event will go forward to represent England Schools’ against Wales Schools’ at Stoke Rochford in September.
Basi won the event, reduced to 27 holes after a one-tee start, after a one-under back nine saw him overtake first-round leader, Carr and Dereham’s Golf Club, Liam Caffyn in tough and windy conditions.
Singh recovered from a first round 86 to pip Rocco Shelton of Woburn Golf Club to the eighth and final place for the nationals.
Both Singh and Basi will be two of 40 competitors at the English National Schools Championship which begins on 23 June.
Akpan adds to Bedfordshire success
Elsewhere, there was a victory for Bedfordshire’s Ixie Akpan, whose home club is John O’Gaunt Golf Club in Sandy, in the Girls’ Championship.
In similar fashion to Dillon, Akpan was two shots behind Hertfordshire’s Amelie Stewart after the first round, but managed to overturn the deficit to win by a single shot.
Ixie won with a closing 39 from her final nine holes, beating a whole host of players one shot back, but is unfortunately unable to take up her selection for the South East team at Woodhall Spa due to an exam clash.
You can follow the progress of both Dillon and Vikram at the national finals via the English Schools Golf Association (ESGA) website here.
