TALENTED teenager Ian Berry is the new club champion at Grange Park Golf Club.

The 17-year-old five-handicapper returned two rounds of 76 and 75 for a total of 151 in last Saturday's annual 36-hole scratch medal final to win by one shot from Andrew Twist (78 and 74) and Jonathan Greenough (77 and 75).

Ken Hudson, who plays off one and is currently the club's lowest handicap player, made a big effort in the afternoon with a 73-shot lowest round of the day but could not recover from an uncharacteristic 80 in the morning to miss out by two shots.

Five-handicapper Mark Garret led at lunch with a 75 but had a 'disastrous' final few holes for an afternoon 81 and 156 total.

Andrew Twist, off four and bidding for a hat-trick of scratch medal titles, was the leader in the clubhouse with only one group still on the course. But from four holes there was only one winner as Barry made birdie on the par five 15th knocked it close enough on 16 for an easy par three and then holed a 20ft putt on 17 for a birdie three. A nerveless par four on the 18th gave him victory by one shot.

"My head went down a bit after the sixth hole of the second round when I hit some bad shots but I kept thinking if I could just birdie the par fives I would be OK", said Ian. "I knew I was one shot ahead of John Greenough and he was going well so I though that if I could at least match him on the closing holes I would be in with a chance".

Ian first took up golf less than three years ago but within six months of joining Sherdley Park was down from a 22 handicap to single figures. He joined Grange Park 18 months ago but has only recently been seen at the course due to soccer commitments.

In fact, after attending a soccer academy in the USA and attending the England School of Excellence at Lilleshal he was starting to attract the interest of several clubs but a back injury cut short his season six months ago and he turned his attention to golf. A gross 72 in only his second competition at Grange Park served warning to the leading low handicap players that they could expect serious competition from the 'new kid on the block'.

Ian now faces the enviable 'dilemma' of choosing which career to aim for, soccer or golf. "I will see how my back is and make the decision this summer", he said.

Ironically, in Saturday's competition at Grange Park for lesser mortals, the supplementary medal, Nev Holt, who in his younger days played for Everton Reserves, returned a 78 less 12 score of 66 to beat Paul Gittens on a back nine card play-off.

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