Hero Open winner Sam Horsfield has his sights set firmly on earning a spot in the US Open by finishing in the top 10 of the UK Swing Order of Merit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield has one eye on a place in the US Open as he tees it up in the inaugural English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

The 23-year-old moved to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit after his maiden European Tour win at last week’s Hero Open at the Forest of Arden.

The top 10 after the sixth and final event are set to share £250,000 to donate to charity as part of the European Tour’s Golf For Good initiative.

And there is a further incentive that has piqued the young Englishman’s interest, with the leading 10 not otherwise exempt after the fifth event set to secure placed at the US Open at Winged Foot, in September.

Horsfield, who hails from Manchester, but lives in Florida, said: “One of my goals coming in to the UK Swing was to get into the US Open.

“I played well at the British Masters, finished 10th, and then to win last week has really helped that cause.

The protege of Ian Poulter, who has championed Horsfield since the age of 13, added: “Looking forward to the next few weeks and keeping the momentum going.

“I played here a couple of weeks ago. Really liked the course and I’m looking forward to a good week.

Talking about the the Hanbury Manor Marriot Hotel and Country Club course, Sam said: “The front nine – the start is pretty nice.

“A few tricky holes on the back nine. Pretty similar to last week actually, where you’ve got to get it going early and play the back nine well.

Thomas Detry is searching for his maiden Tour victory in the English Championship

Højgaard looking for win No. 2

DANE Rasmus Højgaard and Belgium’s Thomas Detry are also both aiming to take a step closer to their Major debuts, this week.

Currently occupying third position in the standings, 19-year-old Højgaard has already shown winning form this season.

He won a play-off at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December, beating Italy’s Renato Paratore, the winner of the British Masters at Close House.

Højgaard said about making his US Open debut: “I would be another checked off goal. If you can call it that.

“It’s not something I’ve been thinking about. It’s just a bonus if it happens. I’m just focused on playing well and that will take care of it.

“I still dream. Winning Majors is a dream, of course. But it’s still a goal at the same time,” added the third-youngest winner in European Tour history.

“Right now, it’s more a dream than it is a goal. I have to be a lot better and develop my game – a lot more to be more consistent and over time, perform well. It’s a bit of both. But it’s definitely a goal in future.”

Detry will just keep on trying for maiden win

MEANWHILE Detry, who is just one position further back, is aiming to go one better than his second place finish at the Coventry course, on Sunday.

The Belgian won a pro-am at Worplesdon Golf Club organised by his manager Brendan Taylor last month.

Victory sharpened up his appetite for a first Tour win and a place in the UK Swing mini-order of merit top 10.

Detry said: “I think I’m lying in fourth right now. I want to secure that top 10.

“I’m not going to try and play defensively, I’m going to keep giving myself chances to win.

“Last week was an amazing week, the golf course was fantastic. I played some really good golf, Sam Horsfield just played slightly better – he deserved the win.

“My game feels great and I’m very confident for the following weeks.

“It would mean a lot,” he added when asked about playing in the US Open.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be spectators or not. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve never played a Major.

“It was a goal for me last year. Getting to one this year would be phenomenal.”

Lee Westwood won the English Open at Hanbury Manor in 1998

Westwood knows how to win at Hanbury Manor

ONE man who knows how to win around Hanbury Manor is 25-time European Tour champion Lee Westwood.

The Close House pro, who hosted the British Masters two weeks ago, claimed the English Open title here in 1998.

The veteran of 10 Ryder Cups will be hoping to make his experience count as the European Tour marks its return to the Hertfordshire venue for the first time this century.P

Westwood said: “I’m feeling good. I obviously played a couple of weeks ago at Close House – took last week off. And it’s nice to be back at somewhere where you’ve won round.

“It was a long time ago, I can’t remember a lot of it. But I do remember hitting a few longer clubs into some of these holes. It’s playing a little bit shorter today.”

Hanbury Manor was designed in 1990 by Jack Nicklaus II, who added a brand new front nine.

He also revised the original nine holes laid out at the former convent school and country manor house by Harry Vardon, in the early 1900s.

•For live scoring in the first round of the English Championship click here.

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Australlian Peter Fowler claimed his seventh Staysture Tour win with victory in the MCB Tour Championship at Constance Lemuria. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PETER Fowler recorded a final round of 67 to win his seventh Staysure Tour title at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles at Constance Lemuria.

The Australian, who won last year’s Willow Senior Golf Classic at Hertfordshire’s Hanbury Manor, started the final round four shots adrift of leader James Kingston.

But Fowler carded a three-under par final round, including a bogey-free back nine, to beat the South African by a stroke.

The 2011 Staysure Tour No. 1 began his final 18 holes at the European Tour Destinations venue with impetus.

Fowler birdied the opening two holes to apply pressure on Kingston, reaching the turn in two-under after a gain at the sixth followed by a dropped shot at seven.

The calm approach remained key for the 60-year-old as players struggled in the Seychelles sun, including Kingston who dropped three shots in four holes.

Meanwhile Fowler maintained his advantage over a bunched chasing pack as he carded eight consecutive pars from the eighth to the 15th.

With players jostling for position, Fowler gained another stroke at the par five 16th to set the target at four-under.

And with Kingston unable to finish with a flourish the Australian was crowned champion in the Seychelles as he survived the physcially punishing and picturesque back nine which has serious inclines for the players to negotiate.

“It’s been a fantastic three days of golf,” Fowler said. “I made lots of birdies this week. I was fortunate to only have one bogey on my card today and that paid off.

“I played quite conservatively on the par fives towards the end but managed to get the job done.

“I opened with two birdies and then birdied the sixth and that really settled me down.

“I played quite well and had a lot of birdie chances but didn’t make them until I got to the 16th. But I kept a lot of bogeys off the card and that was important.Ÿ”

Fowleer made light of his latest victory marking 10 years on the European Seniors Tour.

“The golf ball doesn’t know how old you are,” Fowler added. “Since I’ve turned 60, I’ve said that I still need to work hard.

“If you look at Bernhard Langer and the other senior guys who are doing well around the world they continue to work hard on their fitness, which is important for us because our fitness is dropping.

“But I’m trying to keep mine up there. I’ve proved over the last 10 years that your fitness is key to success.”

Kingston signed for a final round of 72 to claim his third runner-up finish of the year.

That moved him into second place on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit.

Welshman Phillip Price, who tops the Order of Merit, extended his advantage following his third place finish in the Seychelles after his 69 on Saturday.

Lancashire’s Paul Eales also carded a round of 69 to join Price and Argentinian Mauricio Molina in a share of third – two strokes behind Fowler.

A group of four players, including Peter Baker, from the West Midlands, and Simon Brown, Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman, finished three shots adrift on one-under

Haeggman, the first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup carded the joint low round of the day, with a 66.

All the attention moves to Mauritius where the third MCB Tour Championship in a row will bring the curtain down on the 2019 Staysure Tour, with the John Jacobs Trophy going to the No. 1 player on the Order of Merit after the final round.

•For the final scores from the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles, click here.

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