West Sussex School Invitational

Wellington Team- 

Maxime Saxena (c), Jack Sallis, Daniel List and Gaelan Trew

Daniel's approach shot to the 18th hole

Going into the West Sussex School's Invitational, Wellington were the clear favourites to grab the title having won this trophy two times in the last three years. Further to this we fielded a great side with a combined handicap of 5. However the weather did not turn out as we would have hoped; as a result opening the possibility of other schools giving us a run for our money. Jack Sallis and Gaelen Trew were Wellington's A team teeing off the first tee in horrendous conditions. The umbrellas were certainly up. The opening hole got the guys off to a great start, after Gaelen holed a 25ft slider for birdie, grabbing the team an early 3 points.

Team B- Dan List with Maxime Saxena on the 5th Tee

However on the other side off the course, Dan and Maxime's round did not get off to a great start. The conditions had clearly got to them. Opening the round with a mix of bogeys and double bogeys, left Team B +8 through just five holes. However things started to look much brighter for them when they forced a birdie on their 6th hole (having started on the back nine). They were soon let down by finishing the back nine with two bogeys, with poor short game from the both of them. They started the back nine with atrocious weather, but were still focused on turning a bad day around.




On the other side of the course Jack and Gaelen were stacking up the points with 8 points through the first four holes. However their concentration slipped on the fifth green after Jack stuck a 6 iron to 15ft at the difficult par 3. But a 3 putt shortly followed after Jacks 2ft putt horse-shoed back to his feet. Their next few holes did not go down so well, playing out of the heather on both occasions carding two bogeys. Meanwhile Daniel and Maxime had got off to a great start on their 10th hole sinking a short putt for birdie followed by 3 pars. Finally getting some momentum they birdied their 17th and 18th holes, returning to the clubhouse with a very good finish, gaining the team 30 points. Whereas Jack and Gaelen's round was extremely inconsistent with a run of birdies and bogeys, they kept Wellington in the balance.

The conditions were definitely the main factor affecting the poor scoring out on the course, but a solid round from both teams, defying the torrential conditions coming out with 59 points and another trophy for Wellington. Although the scoring does not reflect good golf, taking the conditions into consideration, 59 points was a very good result.


A good performance from Jack, Gaelen, Maxime and Daniel won a great scratch performance for Wellington College. Special thanks to Mr. Henderson for driving, coaching and supporting the team

Good teamwork managed to keep them going through the
wind and rain. Jack (L) Gaelen (R)

Photo's taken by Alex Wilkinson