Midland Golf Union
Leicestershire & Rutland to represent the Midland Region at the EG Men’s County Finals
Leicestershire & Rutland to represent the Midland Region at the EG Men’s County Finals at St. Enodoc Golf Club after a hard-fought victory in the Midland Qualifying event at Droitwich Golf Club on 12th July.
Leicestershire & Rutland County men’s team were celebrating a hard-fought victory in the EG Men’s County Championships at Droitwich after holding a slender lead in the first round. With five from six scores to count, there was little room for error and the consistent performance of the whole team reaped the rewards of an appearance in the county finals in September. William Plant, Joshua Rudkin and James Billiingham returned scores under par for a team total of 347 (-3) which provided a 10-shot buffer to second placed Derbyshire on 357 and Lincolnshire just one further back on 358. With previous finalists Derbyshire (2022) and Lincolnshire (2023 and 2024) hard on the heals of Leicestershire & Rutland, the pressure was on for them to hold off the chasing pack with Nottinghamshire and Shropshire & Herefordshire in joint 4th also in reach on 362 and host county, Worcestershire still in contention on 367 and Warwickshire 7th on 367.
Best individual score from the morning rounds was Sam Potter (Derbyshire), current holder of the Norman Russell Salver with a 4 under 66, closely followed by 2025 Midland Youths champion, George Cordall (Nottinghamshire) and William Plant (Leicestershire & Rutland) on 67. Joshua Rudkin (Leicestershire & Rutland) , Aaron Howitt (Derbyshire) and Levi Desmond (Lincolnshire) each carded a 68 with James Billingham (Leicestershire & Rutland) the only other player in red numbers on 69.
The afternoon rounds commenced with the sun still beating down on the well-manicured course of slick greens and tinder dry fairways to challenge all the players once again. The scoring in the second round was just as tight as the morning rounds with 9 players under par, with best round of the day being Robert Bardsley (Warwickshire) with a 65, but it was the consistent scoring of the Leicestershire & Rutland team that saw them across the line returning with a level par 350 to finish on 697 (-3). Nottinghamshire moved up to second place on 714 (+14). Lincolnshire maintained their third place on 718 (+18) and Warwickshire moved up to 4th place tied with Shropshire & Herefordshire on 720. Both Derbyshire (721) and Worcestershire (724) lost ground from their morning placings. Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire finished 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.
The individual scoring was once again a tight affair with William Plant (Leicestershire & Rutland) taking the Norman Russell Salver with a 68 in the final round for a 135 (-5) total. Midland Youths Champion, George Cordall (Nottinghamshire) tied with 2024 winner Sam Potter (Derbyshire) on 136 with Levi Desmond (Lincolnshire) on 137. Alfie Turner (Staffordshire), Scott Wormleighton (Leicestershire & Rutland) and Joshua Rudkin (Leicestershire & Rutland) remained under par on 139.
Leicestershire & Rutland will represent the Midland Region in the County Finals once again, having made 9 previous appearances, the latest being 2013 and hoping to repeat the success of their Junior squad in 2022.
The Midland Golf Union and the Midland Counties wish them luck in their quest to bring the trophy back to the Midlands.
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