Organised by the Derbyshire Schools Golf Association, more than 100 pupils from around 20 Derbyshire schools competed at the event at Belper’s Chevin Golf Club, with Chesterfield school pupil Emily taking first place and the Fairgrove Homes County Schools’ Cup with a nett score of 62, nine under the course par for girls.

Closely behind her in second place was Jacob Smith from Littleover Community School in Derby with a nett score of 61 (eight under the course par for boys), and in third place was Lydia Ingman from The Meadows Community School in Chesterfield, with a nett score of 64.

In addition to Emily and Lydia, four other girls made the top 16, demonstrating that golf is becoming increasingly popular for girls as well as boys.

Also making the top 16 was Emily Mae-Hall from Frederick Gent School (5th), Alice Lowe from Ecclesbourne School (10th), Alice Claypole from Kirk Hallam Community Technology College (12th) and Danielle Kay from Newbold Community School (16th).

Jack Cope from Tibshelf Community School had the lowest gross score, of 73, overall, with Remy Beckett, from The Meadows Community School awarded the Will Sheppard Memorial Trophy for the lowest gross score (74) by a boy or girl in Year 10 or under.

In the Team Championships, Ilkeston’s Kirk Hallam Community Technology College took first place, with a combined score of 140, and will now go forward to represent Derbyshire in the English Schools Team Championships at Clitheroe GC on August 9. Playing for Kirk Hallam on the day were Alice Claypole, Sam Claypole, and Tom Hamson.

In second place was the team from The Meadows Community School, with a combined score of 141. Representing the school was Josh Heaton, Remy Beckett and John Callan.

In third place was Highfields School in Matlock with 143. Jamie Strutt, James Wain and James Morrell represented the school.

The top 16 players from the individual championships have also qualified for the County Schools Matchplay Championships, which will be played over a two-day period late in the summer term.

From those competing in the Fairgrove Homes Derbyshire Schools’ Championships, a team of five boys and two girls have also been selected for the Midlands Schools Championships.

They will represent Derbyshire Schools in the Midlands Championships during the half-term holiday.

Players performing well in the Midlands then go on to the English Championships, and if they do well in this may then go on to represent their country in an international match.

The Fairgrove Homes Derbyshire Schools’ Championships was the first event of the Derbyshire Schools Golf season and along with the county’s other schools events it is this year being sponsored by Ilkeston-based housing developers Fairgrove Homes.