Smarden Bell win caps golfing successes

Tonbridge won a competition featuring some of the leading golfing schools in Kent, Surrey and Sussex for a remarkable tenth time in the past 11 years.

The school’s 1st team – including Tom Nicholls (WH5, captain), Calum Mackenzie (SH5), James Earl (JH4), Fergus Jacobs (MH4) and James Norris (JH4) – helped Tonbridge to claim the sought-after Smarden Bell trophy once more. 

Nine schools competed in the prestigious competition, held on 18 September at Lamberhurst Golf Club, with Tonbridge’s score of 140 scratch Stableford points proving more than enough to see off Epsom, Cranleigh, Eastbourne, King’s Canterbury, Reigate, Sevenoaks, Dulwich and Brighton. 

In addition, Fergus also won the ‘Little Bell’ prize for the best individual score (34 points) in the competition.

There have been several other recent golfing success stories for the school. On 13 September, Calum and Fergus won the ‘Best Pair’ award at the Schools’ Invitational, an annual competition involving 16 schools which took place at West Sussex Golf Club.

On 20 September, the school’s golfers – including Harrison Blake (WW4) – beat Wellington College at The Berkshire Golf Club, the first time Tonbridge has beaten Wellington’s Academy team while playing off scratch (without handicap). 

The boys also overcame various teams representing the Old Tonbridgian Golfing Society to win the inaugural OT ‘Generation Game’, played at Wildernesse Golf Club. The school team saw off challenges from three other teams made up of Young, Adult and Senior OTs to take the spoils on the day.    

James Nicholls, Master in Charge of Golf, said: “I am really excited about our prospects this season as we have the strongest team I have known in the 15 years I have been running the club. With five team members playing off a handicap of five or less, I really fancy our chances of making it to the national finals of the HMC Foursomes this year.”