Mini Tour has gone down a Storm after final event at Wynyard

The European Tour golfer, who is currently nursing a 15-month wrist problem which is threatening to prevent him playing the rest of this year too, has enjoyed filling his time by focusing much of it on helping to develop younger talent.

And after the finale of his first Mini Storm Junior Tour, which saw young golfers compete over three courses at Rudding Park, Consett and Wynyard, he is looking for that to continue.

“We don’t really know what the future holds for it but it has been great to have three tournaments in the Mini Storm this year for the first time,” said Storm. “We may leave it at that and see how it goes next year.

“We are open to offers and we are possibly interested in increasing the number of events. As we raise money for charity, the Percy Hedley Foundation, we don’t look to pay at the venues, so we rely on people helping us.

“The sponsorship of Hellens Group has been fantastic, for both the Junior Open (held last month) and Mini Storm Series, and you do need that help. They have been great and long may that continue.

“I think there’s no doubt we will be able to go back to the same venues next year and we would like to keep it running now that it has started and it is doing well. The kids have all got other things to play in and we have to keep the pot boiling because it has been a huge success so far.”

The final leg of the Mini Storm Series at Wynyard last week brought an end to another fantastic year for Storm’s tournaments, which also saw some impressive golf played at Hartlepool in the Graeme Storm Junior Open last month.

This time saw the culmination of the younger age group tournaments, when the final order of merit table for the Mini Storm was concluded at the Wynyard spectacle.

Wynyard’s very own Amy Burton won the last leg after shooting 42, Wearside’s Millie Hixon was two shots behind in second. That was how it finished in the order of merit too, with Chester-le-Street’s Caylin Million just behind in third.

In the boys’ category there was success for Eaglescliffe’s Alexander Boyes, who secured his place at the top of the leaderboard by hitting 36 to win at Wynyard in the third and final competition.

Leeds’ Sam McIntyre and Hobson’s Roan Smith were three shots back in tied second and that was again how it finished in the order of merit too. There was a 36-strong field at Wynyard and the hope is it will continue to grow next year.

Storm, who raised more than £4,000 for charity, said: “The format, the kids enjoyed, because we made the course shorter like we did at the others, they played off green tees rather than the ladies and it worked.

“If any of them reach nine shots on a hole they can pick up and put ten on the card and it kept the game going, makes sure they don’t get down. Plenty of children supported the three events, which made the series, and plenty travelled. It was nice to see it supported.

“Sam was from Leeds, we had Henry Price down from Lincoln, Woodhall Spa, and he has come the last two years. We had kids from far and wide from across the North-East and Yorkshire. Hopefully we will get more and more next year.”

Storm, whose son Oliver played in his first event and he was caddie for the day at Wynyard, is now looking to build his fitness up in the hope of returning to action. He has a medical exemption on the Tour, entitling him to play 17 tournaments up to 2021.

He said: “It’s a slow process getting back to full fitness with my wrist, it is a slow burner. It has healed but not that mobile enough to swing a club full out. I have been to see my coach Pete Cowen, who has given me some drills to get my body to remember my golf movements. I have been out of the game 15 months, never had that before.

“I hope to be back for 2020, I have not totally ruled out this year but I am running out of time. I might cram an event in at the end of the year to see where I am. It will almost be like starting all over, I am desperate to get back.”