Copp wins national challenge

Frome teenager Liam Copp became the sixth National Golf Skills Challenge champion with victory at the England Golf Union's home at Woodhall Spa.

The 16-year-old overcame 5,000 other junior golfers from nearly 700 clubs to win the event, which involves ten activities covering putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play and full swing.

Copp, a four handicap golfer, who has just started at the Writhlington Golf Academy, won his local and South West regional qualifiers at his home course of Farrington to reach the national final for golfers aged 15 to 17.

He scored a total of 41 out of 50 at the National Golf Centre's short game facility and range, holing one of his five balls out of a 10ft pot bunker, to beat nearest challenger Liam Phipps from the Midlands by three points.

Copp was presented with a trophy and a Titleist Vokey wedge by EGU/EWGA golf development manager Richard Flint.

The competition was supported by Footjoy.