It is 77 years since an Isle of Wight golfer claimed the biggest trophy in Hampshire amateur golf – and Ryan Harmer is running out of time to claim the Sloane Stanley Trophy before he joins the professional ranks.
The Hampshire Colts player, who has been a member at Freshwater and also at Brokenhurst Manor, joined Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club earlier this year and works in the club shop as part of his preparations to join head pro Peter Hammond’s team as an assistant pro later in the year.
Harmer has played for both the Hampshire men’s and Under 21s team in the past year and has been marked down as a player with the potential to win some of the county’s biggest tournaments.
Tomorrow (Friday) sees the 20-year-old play in his fifth county championship – last year the event was played at his adopted club in the New Forest, but he was unable to make it through the 36-hole qualifying event to make the last 16 for the weekend’s matchplay, finishing 26th.
This week, the 111th Hampshire Amateur Championship takes place at Hayling and the only genuine 18-hole links course from the southern tip of Cornwall to the south-east tip of the Kent coastline should suit Harmer.
Since last season, he has added the first major title to his name, winning the nett prize in last year’s Hampshire Order of Merit with a strong showing in The Mike Smith Memorial Trophy, at Brokenhurst and in the Courage Trophy, the final strokeplay event of the year.
Ryan said:
“I am feeling pretty good going into this week, and I feel Hayling should suit my game.
Article continues below this advertisement “I think I know the course pretty well and it will be interesting to see how the players adapts their game to the course.
“I have been playing fairly solidly so far this year.”
Also making the trip across the Solent is Ryde’s England U16 international Josh Oddy, looking to qualify for the knockout for the first time. In addition, Shanklin’s Jordan Sundborg, who reached the quarter-finals of the British Boys last summer at Royal Birkdale, will be hoping to repeat his success in reaching the last 16 twice in the last 3 years.
Unfortunately, Shanklin’s Conor Richards, who also reached the last 16 in 2015, will have to sit out this year’s renewal – last year’s Hampshire Junior Champion is also in the middle of his exams.
The weather forecast is set fair and that should ensure the 2016 championship is not remembered for being a battle of attrition against either the wind or rain, which can make golf there almost impossible for even some of the most talented players.
Report & photographs by Andrew Griffin
