Wilmslow Golf Club have been great supporters of England Schools Golf competitions for a number of years and last year staged the English Schools Championships.

This year they were delighted to host the annual match between England and Wales Schools teams.

The match alternates between the countries each year and this year England as hosts chose Wilmslow as the venue and to be the first Cheshire club to do this for over 15 years.

The match featured some of the top junior talent in the UK with the England team chosen from their performances in in national and Under 15 championships.

Wilmslow gave them a pristine course and challenging course. just greening up after the hot summer, and excellent support on and off the course from club members and staff and event officials.

The format was foursomes and singles for the boys and the girls with the result coming from the combined scores of boys and girls with England looking to retain the trophy they won in 2025 at Llanwern GC.

There were three Cheshire players in the mix with Morgan Bollan (Crewe GC) and Will Furness (Ringway GC) playing for Wales (qualifying by having Welsh mothers) and making a vital contribution by winning all of their matches.

Esme Graham (Wallasey GC). the 2025 Cheshire Girls champion was playing for England and in both of her matches she was up against Morgan, the Cheshire ladies champions and a regular player for the Welsh ladies team.

The players were given a warm and relaxing welcome to the first tee by starters from Wilmslow GC – Lady Captain Hazel Baker and President Reg Maddock and they played their matches in the true spirit of the game with good humour, sportsmanship and friendship.

There was some terrific golf from both teams and Wales ruled the roost taking the foursomes by 5.5 to 2.5 and the singles by 10.5 to 5-5 with the girls totalling 8-1 and the boys 8-7 for a comprehensive 16-8 victory.

The English organiser John Barker gave deserving praise to everyone who had helped to make this a great advertisement for junior golf.

Copy and images: Geoff Garnett