TWO professionals, who played together as youngsters, have teamed up in an attempt to boost junior golf in Oxfordshire.

Joe Pepperell, the Oxford Golf Club pro, and his new assistant Martin Woodbridge, have opened a new academy membership scheme at the Southfield-based club, which includes Oxford Ladies GC

“With golf participation numbers in decline, we were very keen to give back some of the many great experiences as youngsters loving the game,” said Woodbridge.

The 32-year-old, who won the Frilford Heath championship in 2006, played many tournaments on the Southern PGA circuit, claiming about 30 victories in ten years, while attached to the Wisley and Bearwood Lakes clubs in Surrey and Berkshire respectively.

“I’m cutting down on tournament play to take up this post with Joe,” added Woodbridge, who was brought up in Wootton, near Abingdon.

“We had many successes together as junior golfers and now we have a chance to work together.”

Pepperell, elder brother of European Tour player Eddie, took over from the legendary Tony Rees as the club’s pro three years ago, but his workload has increased.

The club’s general manager, Stephen Nicholson, said: “We’ve got 90 more members than we had 12 months ago, so Joe needed someone to assist him.”

“When Martin Woodbridge let it be known that he was looking for something different, Joe was very happy to take him on.”

Woodbridge said: “I’m still going to play some tournaments, but my main job will be to help Joe with the coaching and helping to get the junior academy off the ground.”

For the academy membership fee of £195, boys and girls between eight and 12 receive four 45-minute lessons, a bag with a set of four clubs and have access all junior competitions at the clubs.

Youngsters wishing to know more, can telephone 01865 244528.

CLUB RESULTS

CORE GOLF UK OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE

Section 2

Kirtlington 2 (3pts), Carswell 1 (1) (Kirtlington scores first): N Aselford & S Chick lost to D Moreton & A Atherton 3 & 2, R Carr & L Slade bt D Hoskins & D Croad 3 & 2, J Stevens & G Quainton bt M Harris & J Peevers 1 hole.

NORTH OXFORD

Bob Harris Trophy: 1 D Wynne-Jones 39pts, 2 B Steele 38 (cb), 3 T Nichols 38.

Seniors matches: N Oxford 4, Rye Hill 2; N Oxford 3, The Cotswolds 3.

Central Sevens: Naunton Downs 3, North Oxford 4

Peter White Cup (Past Captains Comp): 1 D Titcombe 38pts, 2 M Booth 37, 3 C Varney 34.

Midweek stableford: 1 J Tompkins 38pts, 2 A Kelly 36 (cb), 3 A Howlett 36.

Nine-hole stableford: 1 J Tompkins 19pts (cb), 2 J Mort 19 (cb), 3 D Wynne-Jones 19 (cb).

Ladies Stableford 6 – Silver Div: 1 G Boag-Matthews 37pts. Bronze Div: 1 L Strange 40. High Bronze Div: 1 S Simms 34. Greta Every Trophy: 1 L Strange 40pts, 2 G Boag-Matthews 37.

OXFORD LADIES

Thursday Medal: 1 D Roberts (14) 74, 2 J Tavinor (11) 75.

Coronation Cup: 1 J Tavinor (11) 74, 2 D Chappelle (10) 75, 3 C Fox (14) 76.

Tony Rees Cup (mixed foursomes): 1 B Mitchell & R Ferguson 33pts, 2 G Howard & C O’Brien 31, 3 G Hawley & R Davis 29.

Betty Marston Charity Stableford: 1 G Chapman (22) 34pts, 2 T Roberts (9) 33, 3 J Tavinor (11) 31.

OXFORD CITY

Medal 4 - Div 1: 1 M Andrews 67-6=61, 2 C Harrington 71-4=67. Div 2: 1 P Rees 95-25=70, 2 B Felix 88-17=71.

Novices Cup: 1 S Wise 88-19=69, 2 M Parsons 97-22=75, 3 D Walker 97-20=77.

TADMARTON HEATH

Men’s monthly medal (June) – Div 1: 1 S England (12) 70 (cb), 2 B Pawley (5) 70, 3 M Tremellen (10) 71. Div 2: 1 P Hackett (16) 68 (cb), 2 M Sealy (21) 68, 3 N Shawyer (13) 69.

Lady Wardington Cup: 1 J Hackett (16) 72 (cb), 2 S Castle-Mott (17) 72, 3 J May (25) 73.

Men’s Thursday stableford: 1 M Reardon (10) 37pts (cb), 2 R Lyons (12) 37, 3 A Laird (4) 35.

Men’s monthly medal (May) and PGA pro-am qualifier – Div 1: 1 B Phipps (6) 59, 2 B Pawley (6) 64, 3 M Clarke (6) 66. Div 2: 1 B Durbridge (18) 64, 2 D Banks (15) 68, 3 J Stiff (21) 69.

Ladies’ Coronation Foursomes: 1 M McInnes & C Wheatley 30pts (cb), 2 C Pickering & M Pountney 30, 3 S Gordon-Stewart & G Reynolds 29.

Pease Memorial Medal - Div 1: 1 G Sambrook (6) 65 (cb), 2 A Laird (4) 65, 3 P Beesley (4) 66. Div 2: 1 P Hughes (27) 69, 2 P Waters (13) 70, 3 H Young (14) 71. Best gross: A Laird 69.

KIRTLINGTON

June medal – Div 1: 1 R Hunt (11) 64, 2 P Slade (5) 68, 3 L Witney (12) 69. Div 2: 1 I Gordon (14) 67, 2 C Kip (13) 70, 3 A Chick (13) 71. Div 3: 1 P Jones (18) 65, 2 W Rankin (19) 65, 3 G Fullager (21) 68.