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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Iron Golfer Luke Willett with his wife Sabrina and his three daughters after his marathon ended at Royal St George’s

“IRON Golfer” Luke Willett completed successfully completed his Great British Open Challenge, holing out after playing 252 holes at 14 of the best known courses in UK – and after cycling some 830 miles in just 10 days.

What started as a daydream became a reality after Luke cycled to all 14 historic courses that have ever staged The Open since 1860, carrying his four golf clubs on his back in all weathers.

The physically and mentally exhausting journey – which at times saw him playing 36 holes in a day and cycling 100 miles along busy roads in darkness and light – has raised money for the Golf Foundation.

The charity works to change the lives of young people by introducing them to golf. After finishing The Great British Open Challenge, Luke is asking for all golf-lovers to support his efforts by making a donation by clicking here.

Luke, a PGA professional at London’s Hampstead Golf Club, said the cycling was so tough that his play on some of the world’s most famous courses felt like a rest for his body.

Any course that has staged The Open was on his list and it all started just after dawn at Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, on October 18, and finished in dramatic style at Royal St George’s in Kent, 10 days later.

After holing the final putt he was greeted by cheers and applause by club members but most touchingly by his wife Sabrina and his three young daughters.

Luke’s father Steve who had accompanied Luke on much of the trip to ensure his safety and keep morale high was also present.

Golf Foundation trustee Nick Bragg and club junior Jack joined Luke for the final round and Nick laid on the Champagne after the 18th.

Luke said: “I have been so, so tired at times, but it does show how much the human body can do.

“This is a dream come true. Playing these wonderful Open courses has been a joy, as has meeting so many fantastic people wherever I’ve travelled.

“I believe your environment is your best teacher. All of The Open venues are incredible courses to learn the game.

“But the great thing is that many local clubs up and down the country offer children a great start in golf.

“I hope reading about this adventure will interest people of all ages while igniting the imaginations of young people with a sense of the possible.

“I’m delighted I am able to raise valuable funds for the Golf Foundation. We all want more young golfers in Britain and all the money I collect will go towards getting them playing the sport.”

On day one of the challenge Carnoustie Golf Links provided Luke with the best possible start by giving him free dinner, bed and breakfast before presenting him with a highly generous cheque for £5,000 for the Foundation,

They also showed Luke their renowned facilities for juniors. Donations have been coming in since then – but there is still time to donate by going to Luke’s JustGiving page.

“All donations are welcome regardless of size,” said a Golf Foundation spokesman.

After shooting a 73 on the Old Course at St Andrews – with just four clubs – on that first afternoon, Luke endured 60 miles of cycling in torrential rain and cold.

He had to negotiate flooded roads and heavy traffic before reaching Edinburgh. Luke said: “Each time a car flew past me it was like having a bathtub of ice cold water thrown over me!”

Arriving at midnight, Luke poured water out of his shoes before getting up again at 5.30am to ride to play Muirfield and Musselburgh.

Better weather reached him finally on Sunday as he played Royal Troon and Prestwick before completing his Scottish odyssey on Monday in sunshine at Trump Turnberry.

After a ferry trip from Stranraer to Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush on the Tuesday. and a 64-mile ride to catch the ferry back to England, Luke reached Royal Lytham & St Annes on Wednesday.

He played the Lancashire links with Golf Foundation ambassador Kerr Drummond, the children’s TV presenter.

Then it all got tougher. Royal Birkdale at dawn on Thursday, cycling to Hoylake with a ferry across the Mersey, a round at Royal Liverpool before a 58-mile ride in the cold and dark to Market Drayton.

Luke then rose at 3am to ride 146 miles to London before another 119 miles the next morning to Kent for the three neighbouring courses, playing Royal Cinque Ports on Saturday, and then the grand finale at Prince’s and neighbouring Royal St George’s at Sandwich, on Sunday.

Golf Foundation head of fundraising Vanessa Bell said: “Our team has been amazed by the passion and courage of Luke and also the warm welcomes he has been receiving in the golf community.

“We hope Luke’s adventure can now inspire golf-lovers up and down the UK to put something back into the game by supporting our charity.

“We do need funds to change the lives of young people through golf. We will be hugely grateful for any donations large or small in the days ahead.

“Donating the equivalent of the price of a golf ball would be a brilliant gesture in itself.”

The team at golf apparel brand Bunker Mentality provided all the clothing Luke needed for all conditions.

Prince’s Golf Club generously gave Luke and his family a room for the night and dinner at the end of the journey to help him recuperate at their popular lodge overlooking the two courses, and where in 1932 Gene Sarazen introduced the first sand wedge at Sandwich – the only time Prince’s hosted The Open.

All funds raised by The Great British Open Challenge will go directly to helping more young people from all backgrounds to Start, Learn and Stay in the sport.

The Golf Foundation reaches 500,000 boys and girls each year, creating a player pathway from school sport to the golf club environment and regular coaching with PGA professionals.

The Hertfordshire-based charity wants to encourage young people to keep playing and keep developing the skills for life that the game teaches them.

Find out more about the Golf Foundation’s work at @GolfRootsHQ on Twitter, @TheGolfFoundation on Facebook, golf_foundation_org on Instagram, or www.golf-foundation.org

The post ‘Iron Golfer’ Luke Willett completes his Great British Open Challenge at Sandwich appeared first on Golf North.

Geoff Nicholas the 1990 British Amputee Open Champion who came through a play-off at Fairhaven to qualify for The Senior Open at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s this week.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AMPUTEE golfer Geoff Nicholas will make his Senior Open debut at Royal Lytham & St Annes today after earning his place in Monday Qualifying.

The Australian – who participated in the European Tour’s ground-breaking EDGA Scottish Open for Golfers with Disability earlier this month – was one of more than 500 golfers who competed at four qualifying sites for the 49 remaining places in The Senior Open field, securing his spot after a play-off at Fairhaven Golf Club.

Nicholas was born with deformities in both his legs – a side-effect of the drug named Thalidomide which was used to combat the effects of morning sickness in expectant mothers. At the age of 11 his right leg was amputated, but that did not stop him from playing golf – which he took up after seeing it on television.

He carded a level par round of 73 at Fairhaven and then earned his place at Royal Lytham & St Annes after a five-man play-off with a birdie on the fourth extra hole.

“In regulation I think I sunk a 25-footer for birdie which got me into the play-off,” Nicholas said. “There were two spots and two alternate places. We all birdied the first and parred the second, one guy dropped out on the third.

“On the 18^th, one guy knocked it on for two and I hit an eight iron to about 15 feet with my third shot – I bent in the putt and we both went through.

“To qualify for The Senior Open, a Senior Major Championship, is terrific. It’s been one of my dreams; and to get through Qualifying was brilliant. It’s just great to be here.

“I like to feel as though I’m inspiring people – and there’s a lot of people out there. Golf is such a great game in which to do that.

“There’s so many avenues to succeed in this sport – there’s no other sport like it.”

Currently ranked No. 8 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), the 58-year-old admitted he had enjoyed the EDGA Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club to the east of Edinburgh, which took place alongside the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, a Rolex Series event on the European Tour.

Nicholas said: “I came over to the UK 10 days ago to play in the EDGA Scottish Open, which was great, and I thought, ‘well, I’m over here, I might as well try and qualify for The Senior Open’ and here I am.”

In 1990 he won the inaugural British Amputee Open and won the U.S. Amputee Open later that year.

Nicholas would dominate the amputee golf scene in the 1990s – winning both championships every year until 2002.

He earned his card on the PGA Tour of Australasia in 1992, which he held for a number of years, and also teed it up in the same event as Tiger Woods in the 1996 Australian Open.

“That was really special,” said Nicholas. “I actually beat him in the first round – so I’ve always got that to remember. This week is something else, it’s great to be around so many legends of the game.

“A lot of people don’t know what to expect from me – a lot of them don’t realise because when you wear long trousers and walk reasonably well, they don’t know.

After The Senior Open, Nicholas will be hoping to maintain his position in the top eight of the WR4GD and earn a spot at the EDGA Dubai Finale at the end of the season, the second disability championship scheduled alongside Rolex Series events on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The EDGA Dubai Finale will take place alongside the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November.

For live scores from The Senior Open click here.

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