Cheshire crowned 2025 English Boys’ County Final Champions

Sandiway Golf Club’s James Clark and Maxi Moore were in the side that stormed to glory at Elsham Golf Club as Cheshire lifted the title for the first time this century and for just the third time since the event began in the 1980s.

Cheshire took the maximum of six possible match points, which started with a 7.5-1.5 win over Cambridgeshire on the first day, before beating Wiltshire 6-3 on day two and then sealing victory 5-4 against Hertfordshire 24 hours later.

While team captain Cole Self was Cheshire’s star performer as he picked up five points out of six, Clarke and Moore also had superb showings as they won a total of four points across three days as the county lifted the title for the first time since 1998 on home soil at Delamere Forest.

Self, of Ringway Golf Club, spoke for the team saying: “It feels amazing!

“We’ve had a lot of rough years coming second in a few events locally, so it feels good to win.

“It’s a tricky course, it was really firm, so you had to think about what you were hitting off the tees.

“We went there with no expectations, so it’s unbelievable to win."

Coach Peter Barber added: “It’s been a lot of hard work over many years to be honest.

“A lot of these boys have been involved for a long time from under 12s and under 14s level, so we’ve got a great relationship with them.

“It’s been a wonderful effort from everyone and this win means an awful lot to the county.”

Hertfordshire held a narrow lead after the morning foursomes, but Cheshire won the afternoon singles 4-2 to seal their triumph.

Cheshire’s team also included Spencer Davies (Wallasey), Matty Griffiths (Lymm), Ellis Courtwell (Ringway) and Joshua Hockenhull-Wood (Prestbury).

Sandiway’s Harry Kell and Delamere Forest’s Aaron Mohun also contributed to the success as they were in the Cheshire team which progressed to the national final by winning the Northern Counties qualifying competition at Ponteland Golf Club, defeating the 2024 winners Yorkshire by an impressive 17-shot margin.

Against Hertfordshire in the morning foursomes, a Cheshire highlight was Moore and Griffiths keeping up their unbeaten record as a pair when the Cheshire duo stormed to a 3&2 victory over the in-form Ben Sessions and Louie Bloxham.

The decisive moment came on the 16th when Griffiths bombed a drive straight down the middle of the fairway, allowing Moore to play a lovely approach shot to within 10-feet of the flag.

Although Griffiths then missed the birdie putt, Moore finished it off for par to earn Cheshire a crucial game point.

And in the afternoon singles, Clark’s incredible stretch of four holes where he went birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie between 4 and 7 proved to be the turning point in his tie with Harrison Preston.

There was no stopping him after that as he finished the job 6&5 with a par on the 13th.

On day one when Cheshire overcame Cambridgeshire 7.5-1.5, it was a clean sweep for Cheshire in the morning foursomes.

The second match between Ellis Kerr and Tristan Evans (Cambridgeshire) and Moore/Griffiths took until the 18th to be settled.

The tie looked to be heading the way of Kerr and Evans when they went 1-up through 16, but Moore and Griffiths dug deep to take the final two holes to win 1-up on the last, the winning putt courtesy of Griffiths.

Then in the afternoon, Moore took three holes on the spin between 9-12 in his match against Kerr before settling it on the 14th when he halved for par to win 5&4.

Clark had an entertaining round as he chipped in twice to beat Alexander Mills 6&5.

In the morning singles on day 2, Cheshire tied 3-3 with Wiltshire.

Ted Hodgkinson and Moore needed the full 18 holes to decide a winner.

While Moore found two fairway bunkers down the left-hand side on 18, things were just as difficult for Hodgkinson who was nestled behind a tree on the right.

A lovely chip out then left Hodgkinson with a pitch as he put it pin high onto the green before a short putt for par saw him win 1-up.

George Mathias and Clark’s match was decided on the 16th as Clark won 3&2.

Both were on the green in two and when Mathias left his birdie putt short, he had to settle for par leaving Clark knowing that all he had to do was match Mathias to win as they ended on a half.

Cheshire won the afternoon foursomes against Wiltshire 3-0.

Moore and Griffiths were 4-up through 9 in their match, before Ted Hodgkinson and Charlie Sampson battled back taking three holes on the bounce between 11-13.

However, Moore and Griffiths were able to wrestle back control, going 3-up through 15 before winning 3&2 on the 16th green.

Clark and Wood played out a thriller against Jack Mawer and George Mathias in a game that was in the balance throughout.

It was all-square through 9 holes and stayed that way until Clark and Wood found a crucial breakthrough on the 17th to go 1-up with one to play.

With it all to play for down the last, Cheshire were on the green in two and safely two-putted for par to take a 2-up victory.