Halford Hewitt 2026

(Pictured L-R above – Harvey Finbow, Rob Atton, Callum Pearce and Fraser Johnson)

On 9^th April we played at Royal St George’s GC, Sandwich for the fourth year running. It was a strong team this year, with captain Jonny Newton returning to the side, and the draw was favourable against a Trent team who have an excellent record. We have been much stronger over the last five years and were in with a good chance of proceeding to the second round. However, it was not to be, and we lost a very tight match against an experienced Trent side.

This loss meant that we would then be playing in the Prince’s Plate at Prince’s GC, Deal. Here we had a fantastic run, winning three matches and reaching the semi-final on Sunday morning at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal, thereby gaining excellent experience for the team. More of that later.

Eight of the squad played a practice match at Aldeburgh Golf Club early on Easter Sunday as they were home for the Easter break. It was great team bonding for the following Hewitt week of golf at Royal St George’s.

Nine of the squad travelled down a few days later, including ex-captain Richard Graves, and practised on the Tuesday at Royal St George’s in sunny and windy conditions. We saw the full squad practise on the Wednesday and, after an early night, we were well prepared for the 8.20am tee time at RSG.

John Wybar and Matthew Pennock, our top pair, went out first, playing Trent’s top pair. This was a brilliant match which we won on the 18th, after being 3 down after 12 holes. This was a real boost to the pairs behind.

Rob Atton, a stalwart of the Hewitt, played with Harvey Finbow and they were unlucky to lose 2&1.

Harry Bush, one of our best players off +2, was paired with youngster Henry Moore, an up and coming star. He is only 20, although this is his third Hewitt and he plays a lot of golf at York University where he is captain. We had high hopes for this pair, but sadly they came across a very good pair and lost on the 13th.

Jonny Newton and Archie Winter (pictured above), the key pair to keep their winning streak going, were confident going out fourth again. It is the key spot and the one you must really win at. They had a ding-dong battle with their opponents. It was nip and tuck all the way, with no pair getting ahead by more than 1 up. It was all square on 17, but, sadly, Newton hit one very left off the tee and Winter could only chop out to 100 yards short of the green. We couldn’t get up and down and were 1 down going down the last. News of the top pair winning and the last group of Callum Pearce and Fraser Johnson being 1 up meant they had to win the next hole to go down the 19th for sudden death, and keep the match alive. We played the 456 yard 19th hole well and were on the green for two. Trent had a  tricky chip from off the green in the famous ‘Duncan’s hollow’ to the left, but got it to 6ft. Newton had a 7ft par putt to win the hole, but missed it and this year’s dream was over – but on to the Prince’s Plate!

The Prince’s Plate, played at Prince’s GC, Deal was a different story and a marvellous run of three wins took us to the Sunday semi-final at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal and is the furthest Framlingham have ever got in the tournament. The team now consisted of three pairs and we sent out our youngsters, captained by Bush.

The first round match was against Charterhouse (many times winners of the Halford Hewitt tournament) who lost narrowly to Eton the previous day. Played on the Friday morning, it was an epic match which we won 2-1.

Bush and Moore finished early with a great win 3&2 in the last pair.

This meant Pennock and Winter who were 1 up going down the 18th had to just hold on. Winter had a 7ft putt to win the match, but missed, and now they went on to the 19th. It needed 2 wins from Charterhouse for them to go through and we just needed one of our final pairs on the course to win. Winter and Pennock got to the third extra hole and lost on the par 3. The supporters’ nerves were shredded.

Pearce and Johnson battled on past the 22nd and onto the 23rd Hole, a short par 3. Pearce knocked his close to 6ft and, when Charterhouse missed their birdie putt from distance, Johnson had a 6ft uphill slider to win. He putted it into the centre of the hole and we won the match. The quality of golf from Pearce and Johnson was exceptional and some of the best seen ever at the Hewitt. Both are at Golf College in Portugal and their temperament and technique in those closing holes was first class.

The second round match was against Hurstpierpoint on the Friday afternoon which we also won 2-1.

Bush and Moore went out top and again won their match 4&3 playing some excellent golf.

Pennock had a back injury, so stood down and Harvey Finbow stepped up to play with Winter. They played a great match, but lost 2&1.

This meant Pearce and Johnson had the pressure on them again to win. A game of quality golf came down to the 17th green. We had just won the 16th and the 17th is a nasty 200 yard par 3, up hill and into the wind with bunkers scattered everywhere. Pearce hits the fringe and they go long. The boys, looking relaxed, secured a par and their opponents had a 4, so we won again.

A relaxed Saturday morning, before a 2pm tee time, saw the same team play the third round match against Canford.

It was Winter and Finbow’s time to win first with a great win against a strong Canford pair.

Bush and Moore continued their amazing winning streak by winning comfortably and we went into the Sunday for the first time in our history.

Pearce and Johnson halved as we were already 2 matches up.

The Sunday morning semi-final was at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal where three of the team had never played before. This was a distinct disadvantage and both Pearce and Johnson were effectively playing blind on one of the trickiest links courses in the UK.

We were up against Radley who went on to beat Bedford in the afternoon final, and were too strong that morning. They had been rotating their squad, so a fresh team went out and played some top golf.

What an incredible run we have had in what is considered to be “the greatest of all truly amateur tournaments”. It is also believed to be largest amateur golf tournament in the world with 64 teams of 10 people each competing – 640 golfers – and much credit must go to Harry Bush who captained the side and led from the front with his new playing partner Henry Moore. Callum Pearce and Fraser Johnson were exceptional and must now be close to our strongest pair.

This performance is a credit to all the squad and provides a great springboard for the future.

Roll on next year!