Students from County Upper School in Bury St Edmunds have earned an exciting sporting experience watching the world’s best golfers at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The school team of boys and girls will compete in the Golf Foundation’s National ‘StreetGolf’ final on Monday.

The team of four (two boys, two girls) will join 14 other teams from England and Wales at Formby Hall before going to nearby Royal Birkdale to sample the atmosphere of the first official practice day of the 146th Open Championship, as guests of the Golf Foundation and tournament organisers, the R&A.

The school entered two teams in a nine-team regional final from five schools in Suffolk, playing a nine-hole ‘Texas scramble’ at Bramford Golf Centre.

County Upper School has been part of a StreetGolf satellite club for the past year. The boys and girls have enjoyed working at weekly coaching sessions at The Suffolk Golf and Country Club under PGA professionals Stephen Hall and Adam Trett. The club has been awarding scholarship memberships over the spring and summer term to those who have demonstrated ability and commitment.

An avid golfer herself, County Upper School PE teacher, Sharon Holton, said: “Our students were absolute beginners at the start but have progressed really well. The StreetGolf competition has offered them their first real taste of golf and they have loved every minute of it. They are thrilled to be going to the finals in Formby and then on to Royal Birkdale.

“We are very grateful for the support and sponsorship from the Golf Foundation which has enabled us to create an established golf academy. It is very exciting to see these youngsters playing. They are our future club players.”

On Wednesday King Edward V1, Bury St Edmunds and Hartismere played in the English Schools’ Team Championship over the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa. Rio Everitt, Andrew Gee and Alfie Halil represented King Edward V1, Bury St Edmunds and finished in 16th place.

Hartismere’s players were Diss Golf Club juniors Harrison Groucott and Humphrey Moore who took 31st place.