Minchinhampton’s Jane Rees won the English Seniors Strokeplay title by six shots at Frilford Heath – and her two-under par total on the Green Course finally gets her down to scratch. Pictures by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

MINCHINHAMPTON’S Jane Rees celebrated a double success at the English Senior Women’s Strokeplay Championship.

On top of her victory the Gloucestershire golfer got her handicap down to scratch for the first time in her career.

Three rounds of 71, 69 and 68 allowed Rees to post a 54-hole total of two-under par on Frilford Heath’s Green Course.

That saw her romp to a six-shot victory at the Oxfordshire club where European Tour winner Eddie Pepperell is a member.

Jane’s final two sub-par rounds will mean a memorable cut in her handicap.

“First time ever down to scratch at the grand old age of 62!” said the Welsh international with a broad smile. “I’m delighted with that.

“I’ve been steady all week – the greens have been perfect for me as they are very receptive and not too quick.

“So, fire them into the pins and they are not too slippery. I didn’t three-putt again and my driving was better today.”

The Minchinhampton GC member’s final two rounds saw off the threat of her nearest competitors.

East Berkshire’s Laura Webb, the Irish Seniors captain, finished runner-up on a total of four-over while Frilford member Kate Evans claimed third place on five-over.

Minchinhampton’s Jane Rees has never played off scratch in all her amateur career until now

Rees was model of consistency

OVER three days played in sweltering conditions Rees was a model of consistency in the heat of battle.

Rees never dropped outside the top two all week after an opening round of 71. A sign of things to come was noted from her first three holes – all birdies.

Her second round 69 was characterised by four birdies in her opening five holes – and allowed Rees to carry a one-shot advantage into the final day.

Mercifully, the heat which marked the opening 36 holes of play had calmed down by the final round.

In the cooler air, Rees was able to start her round with a birdie at the second to put more daylight between herself and rivals – including last year’s champion Aileen Greenfield, from Sussex, and Hertfordshire’s two-time winner Jackie Foster.

Evans had been pushing hard for the title all week on her home course, but Rees was able to reel off three birdies in a row from the eighth to give herself a cushion going into the back nine.

Webb’s final round of 69 was the only other score under par as the tournament drew to a close.

With husband David supporting from the sidelines instead of on the bag, Rees said: “It feels very good. I’m quite excited.

“I was a bit lucky, a few trees helped me but I was much steadier today. It was not my normal game, I can assure you.

“My husband would normally caddie, but he was here to watch.”

Royal Cromer’s Tracey Willliamson made a hole-in-one at Frilford Heath’s first hole on the Green Course, during the final day of the English Seniors’ Strokeplay Championship

Cromer’s Tracey Williamson just ace

THE final day of the English Seniors’ Strokeplay Championship was also a day that Tracey Williamson will recall fondly.

The Royal Cromer member had an ace at the 164-yard first hole with a beautifully struck five-iron.

It was the fourth hole-in-one of her career and second in an England Golf tournament.

Tracey’s daughter Amelia is an England international and is on a golf scholarship at Florida State University – which counts four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka, PGA winner Daniel Berger and Hampshire Amateur Champion Harry Ellis among its male golf graduates.

The pair are past winners of Royal Mid-Surrey’s famous Mothers and Daughters competition.

In a weather-affected English Seniors’ event, Surrey’s Kathleen Lucey won the handicap competition.

The 36-hole event was shortened to 18 holes after thunderstorms moved into Frilford Heath before the conclusion of the second round on Wednesday.

Lucey – who plays off 10 at Addington Palace – took the honours with her nett first round score of level par.

•For full scores from Frilford click here.

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Frilford Heath’s Olly Huggins had looked in control for long periods in the final round of the African Amateur Strokeplay at Leopard Creek, but lost a play-off after four holes. Picture by ERNEST BLIGNAULT

SOUTH Africa’s Martin Vorster boxed a 30-footer for eagle in the final hole before beating Frilford Heath’s Olly Huggins at the fourth play-off hole to win the African Amateur Strokeplay Championship.

The 18-year-old Southern Cape golfer edged out Huggins at Leopard Creek Country Club – home of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The home favourite made par on the first hole, having played the famous 18^th – guarded by water at the bottom of a downhill carry – three times before finally breaking the deadlock when the action moved back to the front nine.

Vorster and Huggins both finished on four-under par for the tournament – and the play-off was interrupted by a lengthy weather delay after they had played 18 again twice.

“I’m gutted obviously,” said Huggins, who missed out on a place in the England A squad for 2020.

But Huggins has dropped a big hint to the selectors, given Leopard Creek’s fearsome reputation as a European Tour venue – where Ernie Els went into the water on the last in 2007, blowing a two-shot lead to hand John Bickerton the trophy.

“I’m really happy with the week,” said Huggins. “I’ve done what I said I was going to do, which was hit fairways, hit greens, make the putts – I played really nicely.

“I found out how to play this course after the first round when I shot four-over,” said the Oxfordshire-based amateur, who won the 2018 B.B.&O. Amateur Championship, at Woburn G&CC.

For the play-off, Vorster unfurled his power game, and Huggins – who had been so conservative in regulation play – was compelled to follow suit.

It all worked well for the Huggins until they returned after the weather delay to set off down 18 for the third time.

The Louis Oosthuizen Golf Academy player took advantage of a tailwind that had picked up, and smashed his drive 45 yards further than he had at any time before during the week.

It left the South African a gentle wedge to the green on the par-five with the island green.

And, although the pair shared the honours for the third time in the play-off, the change in the routine had left Huggins clearly somewhat intimidated.

Although Vorster smashed his drive into the right rough on the first – the next designated play-off hole – he had got into Huggins’ head.

The Frilford member short-sided himself, while Vorster recovered well enough to chip his third to a foot to secure his par, while Huggins was 20 feet away from the hole in three.

And that was all Vorster needed.

•For full results of the African Amateur Strokeplay click here.

Ollie Huggins best bet in regulation

FOR long periods of the final round of the African Amateur Strokeplay, Huggins had been in control by virtue of his smart play and his great putting.

Ollie laid up on all the par-fives, aimed for the biggest part of the greens in the face of tough pin positions – and then made putts when he needed them.

He had started the final round on one-over par after a horrid 76 in his opening round, before bouncing back by playing the last 54 holes in eight-under with scores of 69, 72 and 67.

Vorster, however, was stalking him through the back nine.

A birdie on 15 put him within two strokes of the lead. “I had a bit of a rough start,” Vorster added.

“After nine holes, I knew I was a bit behind and I had to make a few birdies. I made two on 13 and 15, and then missed a very short one on 17.

“I knew then that Olly had finished on four-under so I had to make the eagle on the last – thankfully it fell.”

That it did fall was in no small part due to some good putting all week.

“The putting definitely saved me this week,” said Vorster. “I made a few good ones down the stretch, and the one on 18 in regulation was the longest for the week and it happened at the right time.”

But the trophy returned to South African hands after Scotland’s Euan Walker’s win 12 months ago.

“It was unreal,” said new champion Vorster. “I’m speechless. This win means so much to me.

“I just want to thank everybody for the support,” he added.

“And the people who came out to watch the play-off. It was a relief to find my ball on that final hole, and then to get it up and down from the edge of the green was great.”

Gloucestershire’s Joe Long – from Lansdown GC – shot the round of the day with a six-under par 66, one better than Huggins’ effort.

The losing finalist in the 2018 English Amateur Championship final, at Formby GC – and is now a member of the England Squad – shared fourth place with South Africa’s Jordan Duminy having carded a total of

Ireland’s Walker Cup players – Caolan Rafferty and last year’s Amateur Champion James Sugrue – finished on three-over to share sixth place.

Gloucestershire’s Haider Hussain, from Kendleshire GC, was a further shot back after carding rounds of 70, 71, 77 and 74.

Huggins playing the first hole – the fourth in the play-off which was won by Martin Vorster. Picture by ERNEST BLIGNAULT

Vorster racks up wins around the world

IT WAS Vorster’s fourth international victory in four years after he won the 2017 Italian U16 International, the 2018 Junior Open and the 2019 East of Ireland.

The GolfRSA National Squad member also captained the South African Junior Proteas to a record-setting 41-under victory in last year’s Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, in Japan.

The latter triumph came a full 18 years after Major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel captured the country’s first title with Albert Kruger and Christian Ries.

Huggins started as a junior at Carswell Golf Club, between Oxford and Faringdon, and in 2013 was selected to play in the Ian Poulter Invitational at Woburn, where he returned five years later to win a trophy that has been won by the likes of Luke Donald, British Mid Amateur Champion John Kemp,

Huggins shot five-over par after 72 holes on the Dukes Course, to win by three from Castle Royle’s Tim Shin, who is now playing on the mini-tours.

He also won all three of his foursomes matches for B.B.&O. when he was paired with MENA Tour winner David Langley, from Castle Royle, when they reached the English County Finals, at Aldeburgh, also in 2018.

Former Carswell junior Ollie Huggins winner of the 2018 B.B.&O. Amateur Championship at Woburn Golf & Country Club’s Dukes Course. Picture courtesy of B.B.&O. GOLF UNION

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Second round leader Eddie Pepperell has been putting better after switching to the claw grip. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

OXFORDSHIRE’S EDDIE Pepperell was happy putting his faith in feeling his way around Emirates Golf Club.

The two-time Euorpean Tour winner carded a round of 67 to take a one-shot lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after 36 holes.

Lighter winds made for better scoring in round two and the Frilford Heath member took advantage of the morning condiitions to move to eight-under.

Pepperell, who is looking for a second win in the Middle East after his maiden victory at the Commerical Bank Qatar Masters nearly two years ago, said: “I’ve played with swing feels for a few years.

“I have a couple of drills that have given me some quite strong ones and that’s where I’ve had a lot of success, to be honest.

“It might look very technical with me but believe it, or not, in my mind it doesn’t feel that way.

“At least certainly when I’m doing pretty good, because it’s all about feeling.

“I felt more calm today, I would say. Actually, I would tend to feel more calm as the week goes on at most tournaments,” added the 28-year-old, from Abingdon, who played junior golf at Drayton Park.

“I was happy with how I was feeling early and I got off to a nice start.

“For the most part it was very, very good until the cameras came along. I must have been concerned with how I was looking, because then I started struggling.

“When I looked at my putting in the past I’ve always felt that when I look at my set-up I’ve never looked that comfortable.

“Regardless of what your hands are doing on the grip, great putters tend to look quite comfortable.

“So that’s one thing I’ve never liked about my setup. It’s been very good the past two days and I’ve been surprised with how good it’s been.

“If I can keep doing that over the weekend, with what I’ve been doing with the swing, I think I’m going to make plenty of birdies which would be great.”

Pepperell who has vastly experienced caddy Micky Doran on the bag, has missed his last two cuts and has gone back to some old drills.

He switched to a claw putting grip as he looks to kickstart his 2020 Race to Dubai campaign after wathching Lee Westwood find some form on the greens on the way to his 25th career win in Abu Dhabi, last week.

The 2018 British Masters champion is a shot clear of defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, South African Dean Burmester and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson heading into the weekend.

DeChambeau would love to repeat his win of 12 months ago and then go on to win the Masters as Danny Willett did in 2016 and Sergio Garcia in 2017 after claiming the Dubai title.

“My wedge game has been immaculate, my putting has been – for the most part – a success, and iron play has kept me in the proper place,” said DeChambeau.

“Hit a couple of nice drives today and getting better with my driving. Just got to iron out a couple more things when the pressure gets to me, or certain situations occur.

DeChambeau spent time after the FedEx Tour Championship in August bulking up in the gym, piling on the pounds, in a bid to give him extra yards off the tee.

And DeChambeau revealed: “Well it has opened new boundaries that I never thought were possible.

“I don’t know necessarily how to control all of it yet.

But I’m getting to the place where I’m starting to learn with driver I need, under the gun – in certain conditions, a left-to-right wind, a right-to-left wind, what to do, and how to apply that power in a way that’s going to keep me in the fairway, and allow me to have more scoring opportunities.

“It’s a gigantic leap for me,” said DeChambeau, who has also addressed the criticism of some – including World No. 1 Brooks Koepka about his “slow play.”

“I would say it is about getting just more comfortable on the golf course, recognising the fact that I’m not perfect.

“I make mistakes and I made mistakes in the past but working on improving everything.

“That’s my whole goal for the game of golf is not only to make myself a better player – but to have people have a more enjoyable experience when I’m around.

“And that’s really what I’m trying to do, so I don’t bother anybody on the golf course, that’s the last thing I want to do.

“I made it a point to work on it and I’ve gotten a little bit better and I think it shows.”

Meanwhile Burmester revealed he has adopted a new mental attitude after being involved in a car accident ahead of the tournament.

His family were also involved in the collision on Wednesday, with all members thankfully escaping with only minor injuries.

Burmester said: “The accident was pretty hectic. We went to the aquarium and on our way back we took an Uber on the way back to the hotel.

“There was traffic on the other side of a blind rise and so we went into the back of a Porsche.

“There were four cars involved, but luckily we just got away with a couple of bumps and bruises and just thank God that we’re all okay.

“I think for the most part I putted really well and I’ve just been consistent trying to hit fairways, because the rough’s quite deep.

“So, for me to hit fairways is pretty good. I think the major difference is probably my mental attitude towards it.

“After the car accident you realise what’s important in life and I think I was taking golf a little too seriously.

“So I just kind of relaxed and looked at the family. We’re just enjoying our time, so that’s been the biggest difference.”

A sore ankle did not look to bother him as he carded a round of 68 putting himself in contention heading into the weekend.

Karlsson seeks first win in a decade

ROBERT Karlsson was the first Swede to be crowned European No. 1 after claiming the Order of Merit in 2008, the year before the introduction of the Race to Dubai.

The tall Scandinavian, who turned 50 in September, is putting his energy into his search for a first win since 2010 – when he claimed the Dubai World Championship in 2010, beating Ian Poulter in a play-off.

A victory just over nine years later would put him in the category of over 50s winners on the European Tour alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez – only three players have achieved that feat in the PGA Tour’s history.

Karlsson, who played in the 2006 and 2008 Ryder Cups, said: “Yesterday, on a very tough day, I kept the ball in play and when I missed I was a little bit lucky.

“I hit it in the fairway bunkers instead of the rough and I holed a lot of important putts.

“Today I actually hit more fairways and it was obviously much nicer weather. I played nicely.

“The tricky thing is we had a couple of years where they set it up a little bit nicer around the greens, with less rough.

“I think players want to have a bit tougher conditions and I’m very, very happy the way that they set it up.

“That’s been my personal response from the players. The problem on this golf course is there’s a lot of doglegs where you cut across, so it’s really hard to hit fairways on holes like one and six and 18.

“But everybody knows it and you play for it, so, but I like it.”

Frenchman Romain Langasque and China’s Wu Ashun are two shots off the lead at six-under, a shot clear of South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout, German Sebastian Heisele, American Kurt Kitayama and another Frenchman in Victor Perez.

Tommy Fleetwood fired the lowest score of the day with an impressive round of 65, edging his way back up the leaderboard to head the chasing pack at four-under, thanks to a strong putting display.

First-round leader Thomas Pieters could not repeat his birdie fest of 24 hours earlier, taking 10 shots more after an opening 67.

•To follow live scoring in the third round click here.

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Thomas Pieters racked up eight birdies at the Emirates Golf Club to lead the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on five-under in much tougher conditions. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Pieters fired eight birdies in an impressive round of 67 to open up a one-shot lead in the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Much thicker rough than normal and a testing wind made Emirates Golf Club a sterner challenge than in recent years.

But the Belgian made a strong start as he chases his fifth European Tour win off the back of a tied 30th result last week in Abu Dhabi.

The 27-year-old was quickly the man to catch after starting on the 10th, making birdies on his opener, the 11th, 13th, 15th and 18th.

A double bogey on the first knocked him back and when he followed it with a dropped shot on the next, he had gone from one in front to two behind.

But the Ryder Cup star birdied the fifth and sixth before hitting a beautiful tee shot into the seventh for his third two of the round to edge a shot ahead of the field.

Pieters, who won the 2016 Made in Denmark to seal his place in Darren Clarke’s European Ryder Cup team at Hazetline, said: “My drives and three woods weren’t very good.

“But somehow I found the greens and if I did hit a fairway, I took advantage of it.

“I played the par threes very well. So that means I’m hitting my irons pretty good as I did last week and I just rolled in a few putts, which was nice.

“I’ve been working on my putting real hard, and I just hope to see some progress.

“I saw that today. Hopefully we can keep it up. I know I’m hitting the ball quite nice, and I’m just looking forward to the next three days.

“There was nothing easy about today, but I found 14 greens, which is always nice in these kind of conditions.”

Thomas Pieters admitted it was hard to guage how much progress he had made over the winter break so early in the season.

“You don’t know what to expect, even though you’ve put the work in,” said Pieters.

“That competitive mind-set sometimes takes awhile to kick in. But today was, I think, one of my better rounds of the year.”

American David Lipsky led the way early in the day with five birdies and a single dropped shot to get to four-under.

Lipsky said: “ I hit a lot of fairways and greens, and out here with the way the rough is, and how firm the greens are, you’ve got hit fairways to attack pins.

“The greens are so firm that coming into the greens from the rough is really tough.

“I was fortunate. I was first off so the wind died down my first six, seven holes – took advantage of those.

“With how tight the fairways are, and how they are always at angles, finding the fairways is tough out here and that’s key.

“I just want to put myself in contention more often, with a little bit more consistency to my game.

“I worked really hard in the off-season with my swing coach and I’m seeing it play dividends right now.”

Lipsky sits one-shot clear of a large chasing pack that includes countryman Kurt Kitayama, Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell,

Pepperell, whose second European Tour win came in the 2018 British Masters at Walton Heath, said: “I’m really happy with that.

“It was clear early on it was going to be very, very challenging,” added Eddie, whose breakthrough win came in Qatar two years ago.

“I played a good round of golf today and proud of that – if you know my record on Thursdays.

“It was, I imagine, fun to watch. The course has gone from being a five-under cut to, I suspect, being a couple-over cut,” added Pepperell, who signed a contract to switch to Ping clubs earlier this month.

The 28-year-old, from Abingdon, has also adopted a new putting grip this week.

“The claw grip was inspired a little by Lee Westwood. I must say, I’ve been struggling with the greens,” he said.

“I’ve never been a good putter on Tour, but for me, it’s about not being a terrible putter.

“I was watching the golf last Sunday and I couldn’t believe how comfortable Lee looked on the short putts, especially.

“I thought, I might as well give this a try. I was very good today inside six-eight feet. So I’m optimistic. Best I’ve putted for a while.”

Tied alongside the Frilford Heath member is Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, and Dane Søren Kjeldsen, who made his 600th European Tour appearance last week.

Defending champ DeChambeau: It’s tough

DEFENDING champion Bryson DeChambeau is at two-under after an opening round of 70 left him a shot ahead of Major Champions Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen.

DeChambeau said: “It’s a very, very good test of golf and you have to make sure your wedge game is on, and your iron play is on.

“It’s playing at least four shots harder a day,” said the former US Amateur Champion, comparing the first round to last year when he won outside America for the first time.

DeChambeau, who won four times in the States in 2018, added: “Iron play was great out of the rough and the fairway, and my wedge game around the greens was impeccable.

“Stuff I’m doing there is awesome. I’m putting still really well. I feel like I’m rolling it on my line except one putt on six today.

“Other than that, it was pretty much smooth sailing and still working on the driver. That’s a work-in-progress, but it will be a work-in-progress until I get the right stuff in my hands.”

•To follow Thomas Pieters and the rest of the field in round two click here for live scoring.

The post Thomas Pieters fires eight birdies despite tougher set up at Dubai Desert Classic appeared first on Golf North.

Eddie Pepperell signed up as a Ping player before this week’s South African Open at Randpark Golf Club. Picture by WARREN LITTLE / GETTY IMAGES

EQUIPMENT giant Ping has announced the signing of European Tour player Eddie Pepperell on a multi-year agreement.

As part of the deal, the 28-year-old from Frilford Heath GC will compete wearing a Ping hat and carry a staff bag bearing its logo, joining the likes of Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen, Bubba Watson and big-hitting Cameron Champ in the Ping stable.

The former Drayton Park junior, who lives near Abingdon, currently plays with 14 Ping clubs, including a G410 Plus driver (nine degrees), G410 5-wood (17.5 at 16 degree), i210 irons (3-PW), Glide Forged wedges (52, 56, and 60 degree) and a Custom PLD PrimeTyne putter.

Pepperell is a two-time European Tour winner, having claimed victories at the Qatar Masters and British Masters in 2018.

The former England amateur international also finished tied sixth at the Open Championship at Carnoustie two years ago.

Last season, he recorded his best result in America with a tied third at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Eddie made his debut as a Ping staff player at the South African Open at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg today (Thursday).

Ping president John K Solheim said: “Eddie is one of the most popular players on the European Tour and we are very pleased that he has chosen to represent PING.

“With two European Tour victories already to his name, we look forward to supporting him going forward and wish him continued success. I enjoy his humour on social media.

“He’s fun to follow and always keeps things interesting.”

Eddie revealed to his followers on Twitter that he had gone out the night before the final round of the 2018 Open Championship, and enjoyed “a few glasses of red wine.”

Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell will be playing Ping equipment for the foreseeable future after signing a multi-year agreement. Picture by WARREN LITTLE / GETTY IMAGES

He then proceeded to shot a superb final round of 67 on Sunday, despite feeling a “little hungover” after sharing a bottle with this coach Simon Shanks.

The round left him unsure of whether to leave Carnoustie in case the clubhouse leader might find himself in with a chance of a playhouse as Francesco Molinarni completed his back nine.

As it was the Italian took the Claret Jug, finishing three shots ahead of the Oxfordshire ace, who had started the day eight shots behind the leader, having endured a frustrating Saturday on Carnoustie’s famously tough track.

Eddie, who came through ranks playing for B.B.&O. with Harleyford’s Tyrrell Hatton, regularly shares his life with favoured pooch Gus on social media.

He is not afraid of entering a debate with his followers – and some times critics, or voicing an opinion about everything from human rights in Saudi Arabia to a fellow Wee Wonders graduate winning his first tournament after Aaron Rai’s win in Hong Kong.

His blogs have showed Pepperell to be a very thoughtful student of life and the human psyche as well as golf.

He has revealed many of the frustrations as well as highlights of a modern tour pro’s life, living out of suitcases and in airport departure lounges.

In 2018, he teamed up with experienced tour caddy Mick Doran, who has worked with the likes of Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, David Howell Paul Lawrie and Darren Clarke.

The Berkshire-based caddy, who grew up in Englefield Green and caddied at Wentworth before finding himself on the bag when Italy’s Costantino Rocca lost a play-off at St Andrews, in the 1995 Open.

With many pundits believing the Open offers Pepperell’s best hopes in the Majors, Doran’s experience with many of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars over the last 30 years, could be invaluable when Royal St George’s hosts the 148^th Open Championship at Sandwich this summer.

Pepperell lost to Hertfordshire’s fellow England junior Tom Lewis, from Welwyn Garden City, in the final of the Boys’ Amateur Championship, at Royal St George’s, in 2009.

Two years later, Lewis, fresh off his victory in the St Andrews Links Trophy, one of the top three amateur strokeplay events in Europe, led the Open after the first round at Royal St Geroge’s.

Slightly surprisingly, Pepperell, who turned pro in 2011 only qualified for his first Open in 2015 – having lost a play-off in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, at Royal County Down.

Hatton by contrast, played in his fourth Open in six years at St Andrews that summer after finishing fourth in Northern Ireland, after missing out on the play-off by just a shot.

Pepperell’s pay cheque of €217,135 after that play-off defeat, in very windy conditions, was the biggest of his young career, and also saw him break into the world top 100 for the first time.

Eddie Pepperell will be looking for his third European Tour victory in 2020 – and his first as a contracted Ping player. Picture by WARREN LITTLE / GETTY IMAGES

At that point Eddie had already qualified for the 2013 US Open at Merion, when Justin Rose, became the first English winner since Tony Jacklin 43 years earlier, after Pepperell came through the European qualifier at Walton Heath – the scene of his second European Tour victory 15 months ago.

That win lifted Pepperell – who was crowned Portuguese Amateur Champion in 2011 – to an all-time high of 33 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Eddie, who turns 29 later this month, said at the time of his Open debut: “I grew up playing links in my amateur days so it’s something I’m very comfortable with when I’m playing well.

“I’m going to embrace the experience and hopefully go there with my game in good shape and you never know what can happen.”

Currently in 52^nd place on the OWGR, Pepperell will be looking for a strong start to 2020, to get back into the top 50 to secure his second appearance at The Masters – having missed the cut on his debut in 2019.

The last Ping player to win The Open? Louis Oosthuizen at St Andrews in 2010, who is the defending champion in South Africa this week.

•You can follow Eddie Pepperell’s blog by clicking here.

What’s in Eddie Pepperell’s bag? Ping G410 Plus driver, G410 5-wood, i210 irons, three Glide Forged wedges and a Custom PLD PrimeTyne putter. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The post Eddie Pepperell likes sound of signing for Ping, following Bubba Watson and Finau appeared first on Golf North.

Lee Westwood’s win in Portugal came 10 years ago and he will be joined at Dom Pedro Victoria, in Vilamoura, by fellow past champions Andy Sullivan and Tom Lewis.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FORMER World No. 1 Lee Westwood and fellow past champion Andy Sullivan will tee it up alongside compatriot Eddie Pepperell at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course when the Portugal Masters returns to Vilamoura this week.

Westwood, who hails from Worksop, will be making his first appearance at the event since winning what was his 30^th professional title 10 years ago.

Meanwhile Sullivan, from Nuneaton, secured his third European Tour victory at Dom Pedro Victoria, in 2015, when he finished nine strokes clear of the chasing pack.

In 2009, Westwood ended a two-year wait for a European Tour victory as he finished two strokes ahead of Francesco Molinari after carding his third six-under par round of the tournament to post a 23-under total.

The win sparked a rich vein of form which saw him win the Race to Dubai that same season and then become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1994 to become World No. 1 the following year.

“I have some happy memories of Dom Pedro Victoria after winning there in 2009,” said Westwood, who had 26 top-10 finishes between his 2007 British Masters title and his Portugal Masters victory.

“There had been a few close calls between those two wins, so I was really pleased to get over the line in Portugal.

“A lot of players talk about how this tournament has gone from strength-to -strength over the last few years.

“I’m looking forward to coming back and seeing how the tournament has grown. It also gives me a great opportunity to tune-up ahead of my defence of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, so I’m excited for the week.”

Sullivan, who was a teammate of Westwood’s at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, was denied back-to-back Portugal Masters titles three years ago when he finished just one stroke behind champion Padraig Harrington.

“The Portugal Masters is an event I always look for when the schedule is released,” said Sullivan. “It’s a great event and it’s always nice to return to a course where you’ve won before.

“I always bring my family to the event as they love it as much as I do – and it never hurts to have some extra support while competing.

“This tournament gives us an opportunity to start building some momentum ahead of the final three events of the year.”

Sullivan added: “I really want to end the season strongly and this event provides the platform for that.”

Two-time European Tour winner Eddie Pepperell has also confirmed he will return to Dom Pedro Victoria later this month as the Frilford Heath member looks to maintain his position inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

The trio will join Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn in the field, as well as defending champion Tom Lewis, from Hertfordshire, and Essex history-maker Oliver Fisher, who carded the European Tour’s first 59 at last year’s tournament.

•Tickets for the Portugal Masters (October 24-27) are available from €8 for juniors (ages 12-17), €17 for concessions and €20 for adults. Season tickets are available for €24 for juniors, €50 for concessions and €60 for adults. To purchase tickets, click here.

The post Westwood will join Sullivan and Pepperell at Dom Pedro Victoria for Portugal Masters appeared first on Golf North.

Surrey’s Ben Partridge, from Epsom GC, claimed the English Boys’ County Champion of Champions at Frilford Heath. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

SURREY’S Ben Partridge withstood a late charge from Devon’s Matt Millar to win the English Boys’ County Champion of Champions played over the Red course at Oxfordshire’s Frilford Heath.

Partridge, a member at Epsom GC, held a two-shot lead after an opening three-under par 69.

But the teenager was in danger of being caught by Millar’s closing six-under 66 – before carding birdies on the 16th and 17th to claim a narrow one-shot victory after posting five-under.

The Surrey Junior Champion became the first player from Surrey to clinch the title since 2011 when Greg Payne tied for first place with Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, Rutland’s Jewatt Parmer and Hampshire’s Jack Singh Brar, at Woodhall Spa.

Partridge also succeeds Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt as champion – the Yorkshire teenager became the youngest of the four players to have ever won the Brabazon and Carris Trophies in the same season back in July, earning him a call up as reserve for last weekend’s Walker Cup match against the USA at Hoylake.

Schmidt played for the winning English team at the Men’s Home Internationals at Lahinch, before flying to Frilford from Ireland on Friday night.

And like Schmidt 12 months ago, Patritidge will now receive an exemption into the 2020 Brabazon Trophy.

Millar, from Dainton Park GC, had been five shots off the pace after an opening 74.

But the West Country boy jumped six places up the leaderboard with a 66 which included a four-under inward half of 32.

His four-under total was enough to see him finish one shot ahead of Suffolk’s George Fricker (Woodbridge GC) and two in front of Derbyshire’s Sam Potter (Marriott Breadsall Priory GC) and Notinghamshire’s Samuel Allen (Hollinwell) who all closed with 71s.

Norfolk’s Ben Willis, from Swaffham GC, also fired a last round 71 to share sixth place with Cheshire’s Jake Hibbert (Delamere Forest GC) on 147.

The competition was set up in 2009 – the men’s equivalent has been running since 1962.

•For full scores click here.

The post Partridge flying high after win in Boys’ Champion of Champions at Frilford Heath appeared first on Golf North.

DERBYSHIRE’ Bradley Moore has won The HotelPlanner.com Championship at Frilford Heath by two shots for his first-ever professional win on the Blue Course.

The Kedleston Park Golf Club ace posted rounds of 65, 69 and 67 to see off strong competition from playing partner Nick Poppleton – who won the Brabazon Trophy at Frilford a year ago – and Hampshire rookie Ryan Harmer.

It was a good week for Moore, who was leading overnight before the completion of the rain-delayed round two.

Bettering his second-place finish after a play-off defeat against Sean Towndrow at Caversham Heath Golf Club two weeks ago, Moore said: “I’m over the moon.”

Overstruck with emotion, the former England amateur international added “I thought it was going to be a grind.

“Me and Nick had a two and three-shot lead most of the round, so it was just one of them where if I kept doing what I was doing all week, I was in a good position to do that more easily than Nick possibly.

“I almost snuck in the backdoor really in the last six holes there,” said the former England U14 and U18 champion, who won both the Reid and Carris Trophies.

“I’ve been playing well for a while now. I lost in a play-off but I wasn’t too disappointed about that.

“I knew that if I put myself in the position again to get it over the line. It’s my first professional win.”

He paid tribute to his caddy. “Tom’s had most of the week off work. He only thought he was coming down for one day,” said Moore.

“I think he’s had the same pair of boxers for three days. It’s been a top effort for him.

“His dad had a stroke at the start of the year and he’s always been a big supporter of mine.

“It happened in March and he’s come through it. He’s doing really well but like I say it’d be great to have him here.

“We’ll go home and I think the trophy will stay with him tonight,” Moore added.

Brokenhurst Manor’s Ryan Harmer, enjoying a good week at Frilford Heath in his rooke season. Pictre by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Harmer, from Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club, came up strong to finish second with rounds of 68, 68 and 67 for his best finish on Tour, after his earning his card at Frilford in April, including four birdies and an eagle.

Harmer was part of the Hampshire team that won the English County Championship for the first time in 21 years, two years ago, at Trevose GC.

The 2016 Courage Trophy winner beat fellow EuroPro player Staffordshire’s England international Gian-Marco Petrozzi in a key clash on the last day.

Poppleton, from Yorkshire’s Wath Golf Club, faded away after holding a two-shot lead at one point with a few bogeys on the back nine to open the door for Moore.

He finished third on Frilford’s Blue Course – he won the Brabazon at the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship playing three rounds on the Blue, and one on the Red.

Ben Ferguson, from The Vines, and Welsh pro James Frazer, who is attached to Machynys Peninsula, tied for fourth on 10-under.

Both Frazer and Ferguson had five birdies and an eagle to their name.

On a day which started with the completion of the second round due to bad weather on Wednesday, Poppleton completed a five-under par 67 to lead going into the final round.

Daniel Jennevret started the third round towards the front after a good early morning finish, as the cut fell at one-under with fifty-four players teeing off on a shotgun to ensure a full final round in the best conditions possible.

It paid off with a scorching final day and home favourite Olly Huggins, who is still at an amateur at the Oxfordshire club where European Tour winner Eddie Pepperell is a member, finished seventh.

His second succsssive round of 71 rounded off an impressive week for Huggins, while Frilford assistant pro Robert Harrhy, who also carded back-to-back 71s was a further shot back tied for eighth with Liam Murray.

Click here to see the final leaderboard.

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Past winners of the Reid Trophy include Eddie Pepperell and Bradley Neil, who both have graduated to the European Tour – Hugh Adams is looking to be the first back-to-back winner in 25 years when the English U14s Boys Amateur Championship takes place at Trentham Golf Club, this week. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

HUGH Adams will be attempting to become the first player to win the Reid Trophy two years in a row when he tees up in the English Boys’ Under 14 Open Amateur Championship, at Staffordshire’s Trentham Golf Club, on Tuesday.

The 14-year-old, from Worcestershire’s Hagley Wood Golf Club, defeated Spain’s Angel Ayora with a par on the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off in last year’s championship at Reading GC.

Adams joined a list of champions in the Reid Trophy’s 25-year history that includes Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell, who claimed the title at Bristol & Clifton in 2005, and Scotland’s Bradley Neil – who won in 2010 at Hesketh.

Neil would go on to win The Amateur Championship in 2014, at Royal Portrush, while Oscar Sharpe, the 2006 winner – who was described as being better than Tiger Woods as a 13-year-old by Butch Harmon – never lived up to his prodigy status, despite winning the McGregor Trophy at the English U16s Championship in the same season.

The Reid Trophy always attracts a strong international field and this year is no different with competitors travelling to Trentham from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Morocco, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic and Wales.

The trophy has ended up in foreign hands in four out of the last seven years most recently in 2017 when South Africa’s Casey Jarvis pulled off a wire-to-wire victory at Manchester Golf Club.

A sizeable number of English competitors warmed up for the Reid Trophy by competing in the North of England Under 14 Junior Open Strokeplay Championship at South Moor.

But not included in that group was 14-year-old Essex golfer Harley Smith, from The Rayleigh Club, who has made quite a mark since making his debut at last month’s English Boys’ Under 16 Open Amateur Championship at Radcliffe-on-Trent Golf Club in Nottinghamshire.

He finished tied sixth in that event and also won the Jean Case Salver awarded to the leading player under the age of 15

Smith has since also claimed a tie for fourth place in the Hazards Salver presented to the leading under 16-year-old at the English Boys’ Under 18 Open Amateur Championship for the Carris Trophy.

The English Under 14 Boys’ Open Championship for the Reid Trophy is a 54-hole strokeplay event staged over three days.

The full field plays 18 holes on each of the first two days with the leading 70 competitors and ties progressing to play the final 18 holes on the third day.

Follow live scoring here

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Open Champion Francesco Molinari has won more holes in his first two matches than any of the other 63 players in the field at the WGC-Dell World Match Play so far. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FRANCESCO Molinari’s love affair with match play golf continued at Austin Country Club as the Italian cruised to a second successive victory in the group stages of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, beating his fellow 2018 Ryder Cup team-mate Thorbjørn Olesen 4&3, on Thursday.

The reigning Race to Dubai Champion has won more holes than any other player this week after the opening two days of play in Texas, with 15, while he is the only player to have won both of his matches prior to the 16^th hole.

Including his incredible 100 per cent record at The Ryder Cup last September, Molinari has now won seven consecutive match play encounters in which he has played.

And the Italian faces Webb Simpson in round three later today (Friday) hoping to seal his passage to the weekend knockout stages.

Molinari said: “It was somewhat similar to yesterday – very good start the first six, eight holes and tried to control his comebacks.

“I have a lot of respect for Thorbjørn as a player, so I knew it was going not be an easy match.

“He fought hard today and obviously played some solid golf. So hopefully more to come the next few days.”

Justin Rose will also play Gary Woodland knowing a win will see him through having come back from three down with four to play against Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell to gain a half.

Hampshire raised Rose revealed: “Obviously I’m delighted to get a halve. I had a great match with Eddie. He’s such a class individual, as well as player.

“To the point where you almost feel sorry for him by doing that to him over the last few holes.

“I felt I needed to birdie the last four holes, but we didn’t birdie the par five, otherwise I would’ve won the match. But my goal was to birdie out. And obviously you set new intention.

“You kind of forget everything that’s happened previously in the match and that’s the way you’ve got to do it.

“Eddie was obviously very, very hard for me. The whole day he was just solid, and his short game is so good. As you saw on 17 he’s never out of the hole.

“Every time he missed a green he upped and downed it. So I had to win holes with birdies.”

Rose also revealed he had been lifted by his long-time caddie Mark “Fooch” Fulcher, who was watching in the gallery as he continues to recover from minor heart surgery.

Justin, from North Hants GC, said: “I have to give a little credit to Foochie. He’s been walking on the sidelines here.

“He kind of gave me a bit of a ‘come on Rosy’ with four holes to play and lifted my spirits a bit and obviously fought hard for it.

“I could tell he hadn’t given up on me. That picked me up a little bit and made me dig a little deeper possibly.”

The half means Pepperell will be flying home early, having lost his first round match to Gary Woodland 2&1 as even a victory over Argentinian Emiliano Grillo will not be enough.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, meanwhile, will face off with the USA’s 2020 Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk in a winner-takes-all clash, with both players having won their opening two matches.

The 2016 Open Champion said: “I played okay. It’s difficult out there. You’ve got a course where the standard is quite high.

“It’s undulated greens and it’s blowing a good two-club wind. It’s difficult to get it right.

“A lot of times with the shorter clubs it’s probably even harder to get the yardages right than with some longer irons.

“It was difficult conditions. I played pretty solid and didn’t give much for free, even though I tried on one or two occasions.

“I kept it together nicely, and he gave me one or two easy holes, and other than that I thought I had it under control most of the day.”

Lucas Bjerregaard, Branden Grace, Matt Kuchar, Marc Leishman, Li Haotong, Rory McIlroy all hold the outright lead in their respective groups heading into day three.

Among those players still in with a shout of qualifying should they win their final group match include European Tour members Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Billy Horschel, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren, Olesen, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Matt Wallace.

Garcia maintaineed his 100 per cent record with a 5&4 win over American Andrew Putnam and said: “Pretty much everything went well today.

“I think I missed maybe one green in these conditions, which were quite tough – a little wind, gusty. I drove the ball very, very well and it my irons really well. I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.

“I put pressure on him every single hole. And after I got in front – other than that little bogey on 13 – I hit a good second shot just a little too hard – I didn’t give him anything. I kept putting pressure on him.”

Grace, who got the better of World No. 1 Dustin Johnson never having been behind in the match, admitted: “This is fun. Obviously I wish there were more of these events in a year, even if there’s just one more.

“But I think it’s tricky around a golf course like this because it’s elevated. There’s a lot of wind. It’s open.

“You still have to hit it in the fairways, you can’t always just play the golf course and try and make birdies.

“You have to keep your eye on what your opponent is doing, and feed off that and make decisions according to that.

“It’s always nice to beat the Number One player in the world. I knew it was going to be a lot of solid golf.

“And he obviously made a couple of birdies here and there, obviously with the power that he can get on the golf ball.”

For today’s matches and live scoring see here

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