Jack Mitchell, then 20, became one of the youngest winners of the island title last year. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0483368)
FOR the first time in the history of the Island Championship, all eight seeds play off one or better. However, the reigning champion is not one of them.
Jack Mitchell, who is currently off two, begins the defence of his crown on Monday against Peter Crosland in the preliminary round of the Fortis-sponsored event and is joined in action that day by other past winners Dave Warr and Nigel Vaudin.
Island regular Dave Nicolle is also an exception to the seeding. Mitchell was in imperious form as he swept to the title last year over the L’Ancresse links, never trailing in any match during the week and, with a fine match-play pedigree, he will still be one of the favourites. The seeds do not enter the draw until Tuesday.
They are led by Bobby Eggo, who starts against the in-form Paul Le Page, with Danny Bisson at the other end of the draw as number two.
Andy Eggo and Mick Marley make up the top four with L’Ancresse quartet Garry McFarlane, Steve Mahy and cousins Jamie and Danny Blondel completing the eight.
Guernsey Golf Union president Alan Mahy was understandably delighted with the quality of the entry.
‘When you look at the eight seeds being one or better, we are almost getting to Jersey standards,’ he said.
‘I think it is going to be a good one this year and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.’
Other notable preliminary-round matches include the island senior champion, Mick King, being drawn against Alderney representative Peter Cunningham, a past course record holder at L’Ancresse.
Nicolle comes up against promising junior Jamie Le Page, Vaudin faces Marley’s son Gavin and Warr will play La Grande Mare star Dave Jeffery, who lost out only to Mitchell last year on day three.
Article posted on 14th May, 2008 - 2.29pm
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