Secretary of the JGU Rob Leader said today: ‘The JGU is delighted that we will be able to send a team to the Games.
We are – and have always been – supporters of the Island Games, and we think it’s great that we are going to be involved in 2005.
We have some very good juniors coming through and selection for the team will be made around this time next year.’Leader said that the JGU will be organising fundraising events for the juniors, among them a race night, and that the Vardon Trust has agreed to fund any shortfall.’We’re delighted to be able to send a team and it will be a fantastic opportunity for the lads.’Peter Crenan, who has just taken over Leader’s role as chairman of junior golf, echoed the sentiment.’It is a great opportunity for them, the experience they get at junior level is great preparation for later.
This coming year we have 12 juniors who play off handicaps of nine or below, and of those 12 there will still be nine to choose from this time in 2005, when we will get together with the selection committee.
We’ll have no problem finding four players, they are already jumping at the opportunity.’He added that the golfers are all keen to be in the Island Games.’If there is a place for us in the Island team going to Shetland we feel we should take it.
The juniors have 18 months to up their game before the Games.
Junior golf is in good shape, there will be 12 youngsters trying for nine places in the Island team this year, for matches against Guernsey and with the Island Games to come we’ll find out which of them really want to play.’
