By Isle of Wight Observer
By Andrew Griffin
Osborne’s Henry Oatley made Island history last week, becoming the first Isle of Wight player to win the U-16 handicap title since 2019 – and he did it in style, taking home two trophies from the Hampshire Junior Championships at Hockley, near Winchester.
The 19-handicapper fired a superb net-par 66 in the morning round, reaching five-under before thunder and lightning forced organisers to halt play. After a weather delay, players returned for nine more holes, and Oatley picked up where he left off, carding just 31 strokes – two better than Romsey’s Harrison Yeates.
Oatley’s second round featured four birdies in five holes from the first, and despite a bogey at the par-five second, he held his nerve. Yeates matched two birdies with two bogeys before a late birdie at the seventh, but Oatley, in the penultimate group, finished with four steady pars to claim the Willard Trophy.
His first round included six birdies, two net eagles, three bogeys, and a double at the last. He finished four clear of U-14 Champion Tiago Fernandes and five ahead of Stoneham’s Jamie Prewitt.
Oatley is just the third Islander to win the U-16 handicap title, following Campbell Laird (2019) and Ryan Harmer (2013). He was the Isle of Wight’s sole entrant across five age groups.
Isle of Wight Observer