The Players Club’s Jack Cope claimed the English Amateur Championship by beating Royal Lytham’s Callan Barrow 4&3 at Woodhall Spa. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

JACK Cope revealed a deep sense of pride at adding his name to an illustrious list of winners at the English Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Gloucestershire golfer’s name now sits on the imposing trophy alongside Masters champion Danny Willett, Ryder Cup winners Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Nick Faldo, David Gilford and Mark James.

Cope lifted the famous trophy after a 4&3 victory over Lancashire’s Callan Barrow in a 36-hole final that produced some outstanding moments of golf in the Lincolnshire sunshine.

Cope showed skill and nerve to fend off his friend and rival around the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, the home of England Golf.

The Bristolian was five-up at lunch, shooting seven-under without a blemish on his card.

Barrow – a member at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club – can consider himself with a mountain to climb despite shooting two-under over the first 18 holes.

However, Cope’s ball-striking and his touch on the greens proved decisive.

And after racing six holes clear as they turned for home in the afternoon, the Players Club member was finally able to shake off his friend with three holes to spare.

Former England junior international Cope, who celebrated his 21^st birthday on Friday, was clearly emotional at the end of six days of competition.

In the strokeplay qualifying, only fellow Gloucestershire team-mate Joe Long headed Cope with a nine-under total three better than Cope over 36 holes.

And in the matchplay, Cope was superb and deserved to end the week as champion to succeed last year’s teenage sensation Conor Gough, from Stoke Park.

‘Thrilled to be named champion’

COPE could not quite believe what he had just achieved after being handed the trophy at Lincolnshire’s “Home of England Golf.”

“I’m absolutely thrilled to hear it,” admitted Cope after being announced as the winner, two years after he finished third in the Brabazon Trophy at Frilford Heath.

“It’s been a gruelling week, but I’m thankful and proud.

“The morning round was very good. I was seven-under and bogey free.

‘And this afternoon, I kept my wits about me as Cal is an exceptional golfer and he made it a very good game.”

The significance of joining the likes of Sir Nick Faldo, Fleetwood, Willett, Casey – and amateur legends like Gerald Micklem and Sir Michael Bonallack, who claimed the title a record five times – had yet to sink in.

“It feels fantastic – I’m very honoured to be alongside the names on the trophy,” added Cope, who had a spell away from the game recently after breaking his arm.

“The last two years have been exceptionally tough on-and-off the golf course, and I have to thank my parents, coach Russell Covey and Gloucestershire County Union,” Jack said.

“I hope this a big leap in the right direction. I always knew I had ability, but it’s about producing it when it counts.

“I played the West of England fourball at the weekend before this and was asked about my form. I said a big win was close the way I was playing.

“I finished second in the stroke and won the matchplay,” added Cope, who became the youngest-ever Gloucestershire champion in 2017, aged 17.

Callan Barrow was two-under over the first 18 holes, but found himself trailing by five holes in the English Amateur Championship final. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Cope was quick out of the traps going five-up

BARROW and Cope racked up a total of 10 birdies between them in the morning’s play.

Cope was quick out the traps and was four-up through seven holes thanks to birdies at the third, fifth, sixth and seventh.

Barrow had barely put a foot wrong, but the quality on show from his 21-year-old opponent was impressive.

A quality iron into the par three, eighth hole allowed Barrow to roll home a birdie putt from 15 foot and he followed that up with two more on the ninth and 10^th holes to peg back Cope’s lead to just one.

But Cope won both the 13^th and 14^th to restore his grip on the match and he never let it go.

Barrow’s 10-footer down the slope at 18 grazed the hole, while Cope knocked his in from eight feet to take a five-hole lead into lunch.

Yet the Lancashire man refused to give up. He birdied the first hole of the afternoon to get one back, but then lost the next.

A birdie two at the fifth offered hope again, but Barrow couldn’t quite reel in his man.

Even though he found himself six down with nine to play in the afternoon Barrow’s fighter’s instinct took over.

A birdie at 10 and then another 14 kept the match alive. But a par four on the 15^th sealed with a tricky six-foot putt down the slope clinched the title for Cope.

Jack Cope will have the chance to complete a rare English double later this month.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Can Jack be the lad at Brabazon too?

COPE will now look to carry his form into the Brabazon Trophy later this month at Sherwood Forest.

He will head to Nottinghamshire bidding to become just the fourth player to win both major trophies in the same season – and the first since Mark Foster in 1995.

Cope appeared to play all this week without nerves.

“I’m glad it looked like that but it didn’t feel like that,” he said with a smile. “My attitude was the main thing.

“I just kept plugging away and tried to keep hitting good golf shots.”

“Cal’s a great guy and a great golfer. That’s the way it goes. I just played exceptionally well.”

•For full scores from the championship click here.

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Justin Rose and his wife Kate (left) have agreed to sponsor six UK events for women professionals, starting in June, at Brokenhurst Manor. Picture by WARREN LITTLE / IGF

JUSTIN Rose and his wife Kate are to sponsor the Rose Ladies Series of women’s golf tournaments in the UK – culminating in a two-day final.

The Roses decided to put up £35,0000 to sponsor the one-day events in June and July after reading about fellow Hampshire-based professional Liz Young’s efforts to put on a competition at her home club in the New Forest.

Young – who was English Women’s Amateur Strokeplay Champion in 2006 – came up with her idea to enable players to stay competitive, ahead of the LET’s return to golf.

She appealed for sponsors to help with her day at Brokenhurst Manor, where her amateur career blossomed.

She got to play with Nick Faldo in the USA and made her Curtis Cup debut at St Andrews Old Course.

And Rose, who came through the same junior ranks in Hampshire as Liz a decade earlier, not only backed the Brokenhurst event.

He also supported the formation of a mini-tour in England over the next two months including a visit to Royal St George’s in Kent.

Officially known as the Rose Ladies Series, the schedule includes:–
June
18 – Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club
25 – Moor Park Golf Club
July
2 – Buckinghamshire Golf Club
9 – Royal St George’s
16 – JCB Golf & Country Club
23 – Bearwood Lakes Golf Club
30/31 – Final TBC

Among the players who have commited to playing at Brokenhurst are Dorset’s Major winner Georgia Hall and LET winners Meghan MacLaren and Annabel Dimmock, from Wentworth.

“I can’t thank Justin and Kate enough for coming onboard, creating opportunities and increasing the visibility for professional women golfers.

“I would also like to thank the Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club members.

“Their encouragement and support has been amazing from the start.

“And I’m sure that with the news of Justin and Kate being involved, they will be as excited as I am.

“It makes me so proud to be a member of BMGC.”

Jason: ‘Time to give something back’

Liz, who played Stacy Lewis in the singles at the 2008 Curtis Cup against the USA, said: “This all started with an idea that myself and our head pro Jason McNiven had.

“We went to the club with it and we had great support from them.

“We had a vision from the start – get women competing again, increase the profile and visibility of women’s professional golf and inspire the next generation.

“Hopefully, the players would embrace the chance to play, see that it could be done and maybe take it to their clubs.

“Thanks to Justin, Kate and his team, our dream has come true… in a week!”

Jason added: “It was a simple idea and concept – play for your own money and you get to enjoy competing again.

“We are delighted to have help from Justin and Kate, as they can grow the series, which is what we initially wanted to do.

“We want to inspire the next generation. And hopefully if this is an annual event, then kids can walk the fairways with their heroes.

“It is my duty to help the girls, it is time for me to put back into the sport and help the women, so it’s the right thing to do.

“Liz and I flew the kite and it has officially taken off.”

Liz Young who has organised the Brokenhurst Manor Women’s Open. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Club ‘delighted’ to support Rose series

Club manager Kevin Light said: “Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club is delighted to host the first event of the upcoming Rose Ladies Series.

“Knowing that Liz had spoken about the LET schedule being the strongest in a number of years – only for coronavirus to hit – we were only too happy to step in.”

Rose was inspired to help by the lack of golf facing the LET players this summer as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justin felt it was unfair that he will return to action on the PGA tour with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, in Texas, on Thursday – two months before his female counterparts are able to do so.

Rose, who won the Mike Smith Memorial Trophy in 1996 – setting the course record at Brokenhurst Manor in the process – said: “Professional sports people are not machines – we cannot just power on and go.

“We have to nurture our skills in order to rely on them when needed – usually under pressure.

“My wife and I felt it was an opportunity for us to help where we can,” said Rose, the 2013 US Open Champion – and gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“We are therefore delighted to say that we will be supporting a mini-series for ladies to take place in June and July.

“This will comprise a number of one-day events at some of the top courses in England.

Justin Rose came through the same junior ranks in Hampshire as Liz Young

Justin: ‘Sky have agreed to televise Rose Ladies Series’

“The prize money will be modest, but we hope the series will give our talented lady golfers the opportunity to showcase their skills.

“Sky TV have agreed to provide a package for viewers and the Sunday Telegraph will ensure the events are well-reported.

“Needless to say, Kate and I are immensely grateful to the host clubs for making their courses available to us, and for the enthusiastic support of all those behind the scenes who make the tournaments run smoothly.

“Golf is a sport that is able to be played while socially distancing.

“And hopefully the TV coverage of the ladies competing can inspire more women and families in England to go out and play.

“It can be so beneficial for mental health to be out in the fresh air and get some space, especially in these challenging times.

“In particular, we are also grateful for the support and encouragement of the more established lady professional golfers for supporting this event.

“Through their participation they will encourage support for their sport and show the flame for ladies’ golf will not be easily extinguished.

“Golf has given me so much. As most of my followers know, I had my struggles early in my career, but at least I did not have to face a pandemic.

“I was still able to play. To be denied the opportunity to work or to play for months on end is very challenging, both physically and mentally.

“And that is why Kate and I feel it is so important that we want to try to do something about it.”

The LET is supporting the Rose Ladies Series and thanked Justin and Kate Rose for their incredibly generous support of women’s golf.

Rose with his support team at the 2016 Olympics. Picture by WARREN LITTLE / IGF

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Justin Rose will be lookng to join Faldo, Monty and Woosie, as only players to have won a regular European Tour event three years in a row. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AS twice-defending champion, Justin Rose is bidding to join a list of European Tour greats as he returns to the Turkish Airlines Open.

If the North Hants GC member were to successfully defend his title for the second year in a row, Rose would join Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam as the only players to achieve the feat of winning a non-Major or WGC event in three consecutive years.

The 2013 US Open Champion and 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist finished one stroke ahead of Nicolas Colsaerts and Dylan Frittelli in 2017, before defeating Li Haotong in a play-off last year to defend a title for the first time in his career.

Rose said: “You don’t get the opportunity to do that very often, so three-peat would clearly be a first for me.

“There’s a great list of players to maybe join on the European Tour, I believe it’s Monty, Faldo and Ian Woosnam – really illustrious company.

“Turkey has been a wonderful spot for me. I’ve been lucky to play well here every time I’ve been, going back to 2012.

“Played this venue in 2013, had my worst finish, third, so I need to step that up to keep my current record going.

“It’s an exciting week for me, obviously trying to go three in a row which is something I’ve never done in my career.

“I guess that’s the focus but also, you can never really approach a tournament that way,” Rose added.

“I’ve got to try and take care of business, make sure I’m prepared and get my game in good shape and then commit to the plan.

“I’m driving the ball quite well at the moment, probably my highlight of the game at the minute along with my putting.

“If I can get my mid-irons going – and maybe some five-woods and long irons into the par fives – and try to take advantage of them, obviously set up some low scoring.

“The weather is always perfect in Turkey, which generally leads to low scores.”

But, as the 2019 Race to Dubai nears its climax, Rose faces stiff competition at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal as the fight to become European No. 1 continues at the sixth Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai season.

Rose will play alongside current Race to Dubai rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger and reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry, who sits in third on the rankings, for the first round.

Wiesberger, a winner of two Rolex Series events in 2019 after his return from a wrist injury – the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and Italian Open – leads the standings by just over 300 points with just three events to play.

“It would be amazing to win the Race to Dubai, said Wiesberger. “It’s an unbelievable list of legends, and of European golf, and world golf, that’s on that list.

“To have the chance to put my name among them would be amazing. I’m looking forward to these next events, and we’re definitely going to give it our all.

“Jon and Shane are two and three still, but Rory had a great win last week and made up a lot of points.

“We are in good position going into the last events and looking forward to what’s ahead – and hopefully giving us a good look at some decent results in all three of them,” Wiesberger added.

The winner of the Turkish Airlines Open will receive 1,500 points, with the winners of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai receiving 1,665 and 2,000 points respectively.

•For live scoring from the Turkish Airlines Open click here.

The post Justin Rose attempting 3-peat at Turkish Airlines Open to join Faldo, Monty & Woosie appeared first on Golf North.

Matt Wallace playing in the Hampshire Hog at North Hants GC, in 2012

MATT Wallace claimed the glory and risked the curse of claiming the Par Three competition at Augusta – beating Sandy Lyle in a play-off on Wednesday.

The Scot was, of course, the first Brit to win the Masters back in 1988 – but in 57 years since it was introduced and won by legendary Sam Snead, none of the Par Three winners have gone on to wear the Green Jacket four days later.

Wallace’s dream start to his Masters debut began with Sky Sports driving him down the famous Magnolia Lane on Sunday, amid grey skies and showers that reminded the 28-year-old from Hertfordshire of home.

And the little boy who started out playing at Batchworth Park, who grew into one of Europe’s most ferocious closers with three wins on the European Tour in a year in 2018, has been tapping into those Hertfordshire connections as he prepares for today’s tee time with 1985 winner Bernhard Langer and Latin American Amateur Champion Alvaro Ortiz, at 5.10pm UK time.

You cannot get a better boost in your preparations to help cope with the lightning fast, sloping greens than three-time Masters winner Sir Nick Faldo, who was raised at Welywn Garden City, having only taken the game up himself as a teenager.

Faldo has always said it was watching the Masters on TV in 1971 that inspired him to taking up golf after his parents bought a new colour TV.

Wallace, who was a member at Moor Park playing for Hertfordshire a decade ago before heading off to Alabama where he spent four years at Jacksonsville State University, shortly after a certain Danny Willett had been a member of the Gamecocks team.

And it was Willett, as well as Faldo that Wallace turned to for an inside track on Augusta’s hallowed holes.

Matt said: “I’ve spent the past few days tapping into the knowledge of those who have won at Augusta, from practice rounds with Sir Nick Faldo, to playing the Par Three event with Danny Willett.

“When Danny won the Masters in 2016, not many people fancied him to do it but he was in the top 10 of strokes gained in approach play, so statistically he should have been among the favourites.

“I chatted to Danny about it and we talked again yesterday as I tried to get as much information as I can.

“It clearly worked as I won the Par Three thanks to that hole-in-one on the eighth. The event is such a cool tradition but it’s done now and my mind’s on round one.

“Being at Augusta is what you dream about. I remember trying to get tickets in the ballot with my dad, we missed out and I always thought that was my chance gone of being here in any capacity.

“But driving up Magnolia Lane for the first time in the rain on Sunday, I was just speechless.

“It was so much better than I could ever have imagined and, by Amen Corner, I was playing in pure sunshine, and this place is beautiful.

“It’s crazy for me. I’m just Matt Wallace from Pinner and here I am, and the mad thing is that I deserve to be here.”

Wallace, who was playing in the Selborne Salver and Hampshire Hog as an amateur just seven years ago this month, admitted that even playing with a hero like Sir Nick Faldo, he found it hard not to play very intensely.

But the kind of bubble the top players need to be immersed in shone through from some wise words from “The Master.”

Matt revealed his hero explained what happened when the defending champion – after his famous head-to-head with Greg Norman, who lost a six-shot lead to Faldo in 1996 – played with Tiger Woods in 1997.

The future World No. 1 eventually won the tournament by 12 shots and started his domination of the game of golf for the next decade.

Faldo said he never watched the young Tiger who opened with 40 on the front nine, on the Thursday, hit a shot until the 12^th hole when he played a chip shot on his way to shooting 30 on the back nine before finally ending up on 18-under before having Sir Nick hang that famous jacket around his shoulders.

Matt, who won six times on the Alps Tour in 2016, realises he needs to be equally solely focused on his own game for his Masters debut.

The winner of last year’s Made in Denmark when he was trying to force Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn to consider giving Wallace a wildcard, said: “You have to think that whoever you play with, however big the name, they don’t care about me so I can’t care about them. As bad as it might sound, that’s the reality.”

The other major lesson learned from Faldo is approach play will be key around Augusta National Golf Club.

Matt added: “The first port of call is to get the ball in the middle of the fairway, and that suits my game.

“Drive the ball well and you have chances to hit the positions you want to.”

Wallace also has one of Faldo’s old caddies on the bag – Belfast’s Dave McNeily, who also caddied for Nick Price, Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington.

Matt, who has been relaxing in the evenings with his favourite foods at a big house in the company of his manager Chubby Chandler, said: “The key is to feel relaxed and I’ve got my team with me and my girlfriend, Chelsie, who caddied for me in the Par Three event.

“I’m 36th in the world, I’m here by right, and I believe I have as good a chance as anyone.

“This is the one I want to win, growing up it was always the Green Jacket and The Open.”

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