Horne Park GC member George Groves was crowned EDGA champion in Dubai.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WORLD No. 1 George Groves held off the challenge of America’s Chad Pfeifer to win the inaugural European Disabled Golf Association finale in Dubai.

The 36-hole event featured some of the world’s best Golfers with Disability and was taking place alongside the European Tour’s season ending DP World Tour Championship.

The Surrey golfer has Erb’s Palsy, a condition which leaves him with 20 per cent strength in his left arm after a medical accident during birth.

But that has not stopped the Horne Park GC member from rising to the top of the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability.

An opening 77 handed him a three-shot lead and it looked like Groves might run away with things when he birdied the first in round two.

Military man Pfeifer took up golf after having his leg blown off in Iraq serving for the US Army’s 3rd Airborne Battalion.

And the 2011 US National Amputee Golf Champion applied some pressure as he carded the lowest round of the day with a 79.

But Groves went on to sign for an 82 and finish 15-over – three shots clear of Pfeifer at Jumeirah Golf’s Earth Course,

“It’s fantastic,” said Groves. “I’m going to go home very proud of myself, celebrate with my friends and family. It will be really good.

“This tour has really changed my life. I think it’s just changed me as a person, changed me as a golfer.

“I’m just really happy that I’ve actually managed to get into stuff like that,” said Groves who won the English Disability Open at Stoke-by-Nayland GC, in September.

“It’s really good to get us involved and on TV and to show other people with disabilities to get more into golf and, instead of lounging around at home, be confident in themselves and get out there and show what you can do.

“When I was younger I was a footballer and I was told to do exercise for my arm. My parents said ‘do golf.’ I went to the range one day and I thought this could be something so I took golf up.

“To come out and win this, be World No. 1, is just incredible,” added Groves. I’m pretty sure I’ve 100 per cent done the right choice.”

It was the second EDGA event taking place in conjunction with a Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Groves finished second to Brendan Lawlor at the EDGA Scottish Open, held during the weekend of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, at North Berwick’s The Renassiance GC, in July.

American Christopher Biggins finished at 20-over, with Frenchman Charles-Henri Quélin, Irishman Lawlor, Australian Geoff Nicholas and Swede Joakim Bjorkman rounding out the field.

•To see video highlights from the EDGA final click here.

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Horne Park’s George Groves went one better in this year’s Disability Open at Stoke by Nayland, beating Duncan Hamilton-Martin, from Weybridge’s St George’s Hill by a shot.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

WORLD No.1 George Groves claimed his first title on home soil when he beat a strong international field in blustery but dry conditions in the 2019 English Disability Open staged over Stoke by Nayland’s Gainsborough course.

Groves, from Surrey’s Horne Park Golf Club, carded rounds of 77 and 74 to claim a five-shot victory over veteran competitor Duncan Hamilton-Martin, from Weybridge’s St George’s Hill.

Groves’ rival finished on seven-over par with Woking’s Ami Bullock taking third place a further four shots behind to make it a one-two-three for Surrey with Oxfordshire’s Andrew Gardiner, from Kirtlington GC, a further shot back in fourth.

The victory made up for the disappointment of being pipped to the title 12 months ago by Beardsall Priory’s Michael Horsley at The Warwickshire.

And it should also earn Groves a place in the field for the disability event being run in tandem with the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, in November.

“It was great to get my first English title under the belt,” said new champion Groves. “There’s a lot of competition out there for my World No. 1 slot and hopefully this is enough to secure my place to Dubai.

“I really loved the course and the competitors here at Stoke by Nayland and am really happy with the result.”

The English Disability Open, which was part of the England Golf championships calendar for the first time, was open to players who are eligible for the World Rankings for Golfers with a disability (WR4GD).

It attracted 42 male and female competitors from across Britain, France and The Netherlands, including new players Ellie Perks, from Worcestershire’s Hagley GC, and Cheshire’s George Blackshaw, from Delamere Forest GC.

During the competition there were other winners for the nett and Stableford categories

The Shropshire’s Tony Lloyd finished on one-under par to win the handicap prize for players off 20 or less after carding a nett total of 143.

In the Stableford competition for players off more than 20, Llanwern’s Kevin Cook recorded rounds of 34 and 29 points to win the title by two points with his total of 63 points.

The presentations were made by John Williams, past president of England Golf, and Susanna Rendall, director of Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa.

England Golf’s inclusion manager Jamie Blair said: “This event truly shows that golf and the handicap system focusses on your ability as a golfer and not your disability.

“Stoke by Nayland have been fantastic hosts and I would like to say thank you to the management, staff, members and volunteers who have embraced this event, creating a welcoming environment for players new and experienced and making it a huge success.

“I would also like to say thank you to our referees and to the R&A for their support.

“Without them, we would not be able to run a championship that showcases the game at the highest level of competition for golfers with a disability in England.”

For full scores click here.

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