Germany versus Denmark with US and South African spectators – an apt summary of the boys’ competition for the Harder German Junior Masters title. “We have never had such a strong, evenly matched field of competitors,” commented tournament director Willi Silkenbäumer on the 5th year of the junior tournament, which has a unique status in Germany. He also emphasised this year’s “particularly high standard of sportsmanship”.

Nicolai Aagaard, the most consistent golfer at Gut Neuzenhof, triumphed over his competitors displaying the best individual results of the tournament. He completed two rounds in 67 strokes – 5 under par...more

Lewis, 16, from Hertfordshire, finished tied second in the English Under 16 Championship for the McGregor Trophy at Southport & Ainsdale last month, a performance that followed swiftly on his victory in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters. Earlier this year the Mid Herts member had finished fourth equal in the South East Boys Qualifying at Sheringham and reached the semi-finals of the Hertfordshire County Championship.

Lloyd was runner-up in the English Under 18 Championship at Saunton, having earlier won the South West Boys Under 16 Championship at Tiverton. The 15 year old from Bristol also finished third in the Gloucestershire County Championship and last year tied third in the Reid Trophy (English Under 14 Championship) and represented Gloucestershire in the Boys County Finals at Pannal.

Myers, 16, was English under 16 champion in 2005 and has been an under 16 international for the past two years. The big-hitting Northamptonshire golfer represented the EGU in the European Young Masters in Austria in 2005 and 2006 and is still a member of the England under 16 squad.

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The tournament participants visiting South-West Germany this year come from 16 countries and can once again expect a range of services on a par with some professional events. The whole of Europe is represented, from Scandinavia via Benelux to Hungary. Classic golfing nations such as Ireland, England, the USA and South Africa will, of course, also be present; while the Asian continent is represented by a large delegation from Thailand. The latter’s handicap of +5.1 is the tournament’s best.

Identifying favourites, particularly in the junior section, is, however, not just a question of form on paper. Form on the day; the condition of the course and the state of players’ nerves often combine to produce sporting surprises. In recent years, however, exceptionally talented young players such as Angela Park from the USA; South African Branden Grace or local hero Alen John have slipped on the victors’ green jackets, which this year will again be tailor-made for the winners, mirroring the tournament’s role model Augusta.

In addition to the female juniors from Thailand Austrian champion Christine Wolf and Laura Sophie Zurmöhle from GC Harderberg are reckoned to be strong contenders to win the event. Swedish Emilie Lundström will also be worth watching as will, of course, the girls from South Africa and the USA.

Monique Smit and David Mc Minn have been able to benefit from the support of the famous Ernie Els Trust and are also hoping to prove their talent at Gut Neuzenhof. The South African superstar is very actively involved in junior golf in his home country. The hottest competition can be expected from the US American players. John Popeck and Mark Johnson qualified for Heddesheim at the US Junior PGA Championships. The world’s arguably most famous junior tournament, held in Westfield, USA, has served as a role model for the organisers at Gut Neuzenhof in many respects. “An American boy has yet to take top place at the Harder German Junior Masters,” points out tournament manager Susanna Roswaag when asked about the American junior golfers’ will to win.

Many European national teams, such as Denmark, Switzerland or England, will also be travelling to Heddesheim. “These kinds of international opportunities for comparison are essential for young players and their training,” commented football’s living legend Franz Beckenbauer when he visited Gut Neuzenhof last year. The Harder German Junior Masters will again be living up to this expectation, with the result that passionate golf player Beckenbauer is once again patron of this year’s tournament.

And young German players are continuing to improve. With a handicap of +1.2 Sebastian Kannler from LGC St. Eurach is among the hot favourites. Top players from the region are also considered to have good chances in the three rounds of the Harder German Junior Masters. Heinrich Konstantin of GC St. Leon-Rot is certainly capable of creating an international surprise, as are his club mates Moritz and Christopher Lampert. And Dominik Dehm of GC Heddesheim will be playing the role of this year’s hopeful local hero.

A look at the winners’ lists of previous years backs up the organisers at Heddesheim Golf Club. Last year’s winner, South African Branden Grace, is currently successfully pursuing his goal of becoming the new Ernie Els, and Angela Park, a winner in 2005, is making her way on the Tour with placings in the top ten.

Both these international up-and-coming stars and also local hero Alen John were head and shoulders above the competition in the first two years of the tournament. Tournament director Willy Silkenbäumer does not expect to see such clear winners in the future, especially when taking the list of registrations into consideration. He believes that the standard of play will continue to improve and the competition to win the green jackets will be fought out to the last hole.

South Africa’s top four junior players will be travelling to North Baden for the tournament, as will the winners of the Westfield Junior PGA Championships. Heddesheim will thus be taking on the role of a kind of outpost of Westfield, junior golf’s Augusta.

The American Junior Golf Association and the US College-bound Golfers will also be sending additional highly talented players across the pond.

Passionate golfer and HGJM patron Franz Beckenbauer is correspondingly enthusiastic, saying “The sport needs these kinds of international opportunities for comparison.” Football’s living legend has already confirmed his repeat attendance at Gut Neuzenhof, as last year.

Germany’s “Emperor” will be able to see talented players from England, Ireland, Scandinavia and Thailand in action. Junior golfers from Australia and South Korea will also be giving their debut at the mini U18 golf world championships.

The accompanying programme of events in Heddesheim and in particular the comprehensive range of services on offer to the young sportsmen and women will again be on a par with a PRO tournament or, in some cases, even better – a point confirmed by German pro golfer Marcel Siem. And he ought to know. He is counted among the HGJM’s most ardent fans and has often been a spectator witnessing the fantastic performance of the juniors on the greens at the tournament.

A series of lectures covering the effect of sight defects on a golfer’s game by speakers Prof Dr. Dietrich Grönemeyer, Prof. Wolfgang Sickenberger and top coach Tom Burnett will round off the four days at Gut Neuzenhof, held under the credo of supporting young talents.

The tournament’s patron does not rule out the possibility that we have “perhaps seen tomorrow’s Tiger Woods here”. And the patron of the Harder German Junior Masters is someone whose sporting instincts are rarely wrong – Franz Beckenbauer. Following the completion of his mission “Football World Cup in Germany” the football legend, himself an active golfer with a handicap of 10, had finally found the time to visit Gut Neuzenhof personally. “This country’s sport needs international comparisons far more often,” said an enthusiastic Beckenbauer, commenting on the competitors from 14 countries. “It’s the only way for our own budding stars to make it to the top.”...more