Florida-based Englishman Sam Horsfield’s maiden win came in the land of his birth – a feat his mentor Ian Poulter has never achieved. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Hero Open after showing nerves of steel down the stretch.

The Mancunian raised in Florida beat off the challenge of Belgium’s Thomas Detry to seal a one-stroke victory at the Forest of Arden in the West Midlands.

The 23-year-old became the first home winner of the Hero Open – formerly the English Open – since Lee Westwood in 1998.

Horsfield, a protege of Ian Poulter, became the fifth English winner in total and achieved something the Ryder Cup star has not achieved in 20 years on tour – a victory in England.

The win also moves Horsfield to the top of the UK Swing Rankings, from which the top 10 players at the conclusion of the ISPS Handa Wales Open will earn exemptions to next month’s US Open at Winged Foot.

Horsfield said: “It’s crazy, I can’t put it in to words.

“I made a bad bogey on 15, then on 17 we wanted to leave a good five-wood number and I did – 233, wind out to the left. Hit a great shot there.

“It’s special. With everything that’s going on in the world right now, I’m thankful that the European Tour has been able to put on tournaments for us to play.

“I’ve been in Orlando for the last three months and felt like my game was right there. I played decently last week, had a bad finish but kept the positives from that.

“I played solid all week and gave myself a lot of opportunities and made one enough,” said the player who has two 59s to his name already in his career – his first came aged 13.

Sam Horsfield had a six-shot lead at one point on Saturday – but showed nerves of steel during the final round with the chasing pack close on his tail. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Sam’s back nine fails to prove costly

HORSFIELD had endured a difficult back nine in his third round after giving an on-course interview to Sky Sports walking down the 10th fairway.

The former University of Florida player said he was able to go low by being aggressive.

After speaking to Tim Barter, who asked him about his 59 last month at Florida’s Streamsong, a par 73, Sam relinquished a six-shot lead he had built on the front nine, making a double bogey and giving up three more shots.

But the Englishman, who pulled of the Great Britain & Ireland team before the 2015 Walker Cup team, showed true determination on an exciting final day.

He maintained his one-shot overnight lead over the chasing pack for the vast part of the round.

Horsfield was knocked off the perch briefly when Detry birdied the 17th to move to the front on 18-under par.

But the Belgian missed a crucial par putt at the last from four feet to drop back to 17-under alongside the eventual winner.

Horsfield capitalised on his opportunity at the penultimate hole, playing the par-five to perfection.

The 2017 Qualifying School winner picked up a shot to earn a one-one stroke advantage stepping onto the tee of the par-three final hole.

A deft lag putt left him with an easy par putt to lift the trophy, after signing for a four-under par 68 – and an 18-under total.

Thomas Detry was briefly in the lead with two to play but dropped a shot on the last after making. a birdie on his penultimate hole. Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

Detry only sees positives from UK Swing

DETRY was only taking the positives after another near miss looking for his maiden win.

He said: “A lot of things have been going through my mind, but honestly I have nothing to be disappointed about right now.

“I played some really good golf. The greens are getting trickier down the stretch and I over-read that putt on 18.

“But I’m very pleased with the way I finished on those last few holes to be honest.

“I hit some very good shots out there. Another missed opportunity, but I’ll move on and forget about it – and just try to win next week.

“It was tough out there, the wind started to swirl a little bit and 16 and 17 are tough holes with a lot of water around.

“You have to be careful because you can quickly make a high number, but I handled it pretty well, like I said I’ll just move on.

“I’m feeling very positive about the rest of the UK Swing now.

“I’ve picked up a few points for the UK Swing Rankings so it will change a few things.

“I might not play every single tournament now but we’ll see how things go. But I’m definitely playing next week so I’m looking forward to that.”

Forest of Arden’s £50k from Golf for Good to give away

Horsfield, who left the UK to live in Florida at the age of five, moved from 43rd to 18th in the Race to Dubai Rankings.

His win concluded another successful week on the UK Swing for the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative.

Forest of Arden received £50,000 from the tour to be distributed to charities of their choice – with Blood Cancer UK being awarded £20,000, and local charities Newlife and Birmingham Mind receiving £15,000 each.

•For the final scores in the Hero Open click here.

The post Sam Horsfield says Tour are real heroes after his maiden victory at Forest of Arden appeared first on Golf North.

Marc Warren claimed the fourth European Tour win of his career by holing a five-footer to win the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, holding off Sebastian Garcia-Rodriguez. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SCOT Marc Warren ended a six-year wait for his fourth European Tour title by winning the Austrian Open.

Warren, who last tasted victory at the 2014 Made In Denmark, came out on top as the European Tour and European Challenge Tour seasons restarted after a four-month break – due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The 39-year-old from East Kilbride started the final day at Diamond Country Club in a share of the lead with Germany’s Nicolai von Dellingshausen.

But it was an enthralling battle with Spanish youngster Sebastian Garcia-Rodriguez which he had to overcome to for his first win in six years on the European Tour.

Warren, who won the 2006 Scandinavian Masters and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles a year later, was asked what had happened to his game over the past six years?

He said: “What’s happened on the golf course in the years since then? I’ve played very poorly.

“The break has been unfortunate for everyone. But it came at a good time for me, spending some time at home and trying to get my game ready to play golf.

“It was nice to have such a long break with the family. The last few weeks I’ve been able to get some good work done and get ready to play golf.

“Came out of it pretty refreshed,” added Warren, who also partnered Colin Montgomerie in the WGC-World Cup, losing to Germany in a play-off.

“Carrying my bag this week probably helped tone it down a little – just going out and playing and seeing what happens,” he said.

“The result couldn’t have been any better.”

Playing without caddie ‘different’

WARREN admitted it had “been different” playing without a caddie – the first time since 2005, some 15 years.

Mark said: “Hopefully this is the one and only time, no matter what I say. I do enjoy the caddie’s company.

“Especially on days like yesterday. Last night I had a few nice texts from some of the caddies who are good friends.

“I didn’t say it, but I was thinking I could have done with one of them yesterday, it was brutal.

“At times like that you appreciate what a great job they do. I’m looking forward to getting a caddie on the bag again.”

Warren also admitted that he had been watching and also avoiding the leaderboards in round four.

“In my head the tournament doesn’t start until the back nine,” said the Scot who holed the winning putt at the 2001 Walker Cup against the USA at Sea Island, playing alongside Luke Donald, Richard McEvoy and Graeme McDowell – all fellow European Tour winners.

“A lot can happen on the front nine here,” said Warren. “There’s a lot of water about. It was tough. The wind was swirling.”

Marc Warren – a Walker Cup winner in 2001 – pictured front right with Graeme McDowell. Luke Donald, Nick Dougherty, and Richard McEvoy at Sea Island, Georgia

Regaining full status after victory No. 4 ‘huge’

MARC WARREN, who was the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2006 12 months after claiming the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, revealed he nearly made a miscalculation while carrying his own clubs.

“Sebastian got off to a great start, made three at the first. He started 10-under, but I thought he started 11. I had him one shot better than he was,” he said.

“When we got to the last five or six, seeing how tight it was, I was just trying to commit as much as possible to the shots.

“Around the turn I hit a couple of great shots on nine and 10 – made two birdies. Hit a really good iron shot on 11, but the wind didn’t move it and I made bogey.

“I felt like that set me back a little bit. But I holed a good birdie putt on 15 and then a good putt on 17 that was really steep downhill from about 15 feet.

“I was trying to make sure I didn’t run it past. I tried to get the pace right and fortunately it went right in the middle.

“It’s massive. Going from a few hours ago I didn’t have full status. Now to be in a winner’s category and plan the year a little bit is good.

“I just need to keep doing what I’m doing, trying to hit one shape all the time, and when I do play – try and do that and try not to mess about too much,” added Warren, whose enjoyed the most successful part of his career after teaming up with the late Bob Torrance.

Marcel Schneider set clubhouse target at 12-under

GARCIA-Rodriguez eagled the first to move to within a shot, and the pair shared the lead coming down the home straight until Marc Warren made his sixth birdie of the day on the 17^th.

Marcel Schneider whose sole win on the European Challenge Tour came in the Swiss Challenge two years ago

Germany’s Marcel Schneider made a run for the title with a three-under par 69 to hold the clubhouse lead on 12-under, as Warren stood on the 18^th tee.

After Garcia-Rodriguez, who trailed by one with one to play, hit his tee shot into the water, Warren needed just a par which he duly converted from five feet.

Schneider, who shot a course record to lead last year’s Euram Bank Open after the first round, said: “I was practising hard during the ‘off-season.’

“It’s nice that it has showed up so quickly. So I’m quite happy with the result,” said the 2012 Australian Amateur Champion.

“There were a few bad shots here and there, in general I’m really happy.

“It helps to get the confidence going. I’m looking forward to next week. I like the course,” added Schneider, whose only Challenge Tour win came in Switzerland in 2018 – after he lost his European Tour in 2017.

Wil Besseling picked up two wins in the BMW Indoor Invitational series during lockdown

Besseling turns virtual victories into lowest score in R4

DUTCHMAN Wil Besseling carded the joint-low round of the day, a six-under par 66, to take solo third.

Besseling won two of the six BMW Indoor Invitational – played on simulators in May and June during lockdown – at München Eichenried and the final one at Wentworth.

Wil said: “Coming back from four months off, it is really nice to play for a win and I am very pleased where my game is at.

“Yesterday was really tough with the rain and today I played good. Hit a few good shots on the front nine to give myself a lot of opportunities, which I made to get me in contention.

“And I managed to stay bogey-free which is very pleasing, especially on a Sunday playing for the win.

“I was struggling on the back nine all week. I hit it in the water on the par five 16th and managed to make par so happy with that.

“But also happy with the outcome overall as it has definitely been a good week.

“I made all my birdies on the front nine this week. Getting out in five-under really helped me, to get to 10-under par.

“And I saw the leaders didn’t run away with it, so I thought give yourself a chance and see what happens.”

Garcia-Rodriguez was joined by Scottish pair Craig Howie and Connor Syme, alongside Holland’s Darius van Driel on 10-under.

•To see the final scores click here.

Adamstal Golf Club has impressive views in the Austrian Alps

Tour stays in Austria with another dual-ranking event

THE season continues in Austria this week with another dual-ranked event.

The Euram Bank Open is being staged at GC Adamstal, and will be followed by the Betfred British Masters at Close House, the first of the new six-event UK Swing.

The post Marc Warren returns from wilderness after six-year wait to win Austrian Open appeared first on Golf North.

Danny Willett receives the Green Jacket from Jordan Spieth with Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne (right) after the Yorkshireman won th 2016 Masters.

DANNY Willett’s Green Jacket will always take pride of place in his locker, but an England team blazer remains dear to his heart.

In fact, the 2016 Masters champion rates playing as an amateur in the Home Internationals for England as his favourite team golf experience.

But given his experiences as a member of Darren Clarke’s team at the 2016 Ryder Cup, when he was at the centre of a media storm created by a magazine interview given by his brother, that might not be such a surprise.

But there were several more surprises in a wide-ranging, open and honest online Q&A session, which Willett conducted with England Golf coaches and players.

Willett was the toast of world golf four years ago when he came from three shots back.

He carded a brilliant final round 67 to win the Masters by three shots from defending champion Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood.

To date, it remains the greatest achievement of the Yorkshireman’s career although his first victory on home soil – in last year’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – was another major milestone.

And it was a hot topic for discussion during another lively webchat hosted by England performance director Nigel Edwards.

Willett, Lowry, McIlroy, Wood and Edwards featured in elite contests

BOTH Willett and Edwards share more than an England Golf connection.

In 2007, they were part of the GB&I Walker Cup squad – also featuring Rory McIlroy – which narrowly lost out to a star-studded American side including Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, at Royal County Down.

The pair were also in the same European team that won the Michael Bonnallack Trophy in 2008, beating Asia- Pacific at Valderrama, alongside Gloucestershire’s future Ryder Cup player Chris Wood, and last year’s Open Champion Shane Lowry.

Willett – currently based in Florida’s Isleworth, as he waits for the tours to start on both sides of the pond – talked through his amazing work ethic, his attention to detail and the processes he has followed all his career.

And he recalled with fondness an amateur career during which he won the Australian Strokeplay, the Spanish Amateur and English Amateur en route to becoming No. 1 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Willett said: “I loved everything about team golf with England when you had a group of guys taking on Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

“You maybe had 40-50 of the best players from the UK there and you were trying to impress for Walker Cup places and Jacques Leglise teams.

“You wanted to beat everyone, you certainly didn’t want to lose to a rival country. But there was still a great camaraderie.

“Yorkshire normally had quite a good bunch and we were well represented.

“But you caught up with people you hadn’t seen since the last event and I was good pals with Oliver Fisher and Tom Sherrard among others and it was great to get everyone together.”

Danny Willett (back row right) in the European team that won the 2008 Michael Bonallack Trophy, playing alongside Shane Lowry, Nigel Edwards and Chris Wood.

Danny has not been back to Royal St George since English Amateur victory in 2007

WILLETT, who was a junior at Rotherham GC, has won seven times on Tour and, at 32 years of age, has arguably yet to reach his prime.

As a youth, Willett was always earmarked for a great career – and his English Amateur win at Royal St George’s in 2007 remains a landmark moment.

“It was a great week,” recalled Willett who beat Matt Cryer 3&2 to lift the silverware.

“I played a lot of good players that week and then beat Matt in the final.

“It was the end of a pretty exceptional summer and the culmination of lot of good golf that I played at that time.

“To win any event is brilliant – to win on home soil in front of England officials and organisers it was a really special one to get it under your belt.

“It was a great golf course to win on too – and I’ll now need to wait until next year to go back with this year’s Open postponed.

“Oddly enough I haven’t played there since I won the English Amateur.

“I was looking forward to going back – but it’s more just looking forward to The Open as an event.

“For an Englishman, The Open in England is truly special just as it is for a Scotsman in Scotland or the Irish boys last year at Portrush.

“You take Opens wherever they are – they are always phenomenal, but it’s great to get a home crowd.

“I have fond memories of that place and it’s been a helluva long time since I played it. To go back as professional with a different golf game would have been a lot of fun.”

Willett has seven victories on the European Tour to his name – he also claimed the biggest cash prize in 2018 by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Danny Willett during the Q&A session with England’s national squads

Rotherham still producing top teenage talents

AS a Yorkshireman, Willett remain fiercely proud of his home county and still keeps one eye on the amateur game.

The rise of Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt in the last year has caught his attention.

Willett added:”I still chat to Graham Walker about the lads coming up through Yorkshire and different bits and bobs.

“There are a couple of players in Yorkshire – Ben being one – and I keep track even though life is busy.

“I’ve tried to help him out for a few things here and there. He’s young, but he has to keep working hard and see where he gets.

“It’s good and well winning, but the scores he was posting were the thing to look out for. That’s the impressive part.

“He’s also won in Australia and if you have a game that travels, then that’s a good thing.”

Fellow Rotherham GC member Ben Schmidt, the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy, has been given advice by Danny Willet. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

•Next in line for the England squads is a Q&A with Ryder Cup player and European Tour winner Chris Wood.

Matt Wallace, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Meghan MacLaren and Bronte Law have all hosted similar sessions.

The post Willett says England Home Internationals win in 2009 was his best team experience appeared first on Golf North.

Matt Wallace spoke about his time in the England Golf Elite squad to current members – and his years struggling on the Alps Tour before winning three European Tour events

EUROPEAN Tour stars Matt Wallace and Matt Fitzpatrick have gone back to their roots to encourage, inspire and advise the next generation of English golfers.

The former England Golf graduates took part in separate online Q&A sessions with current players, coaches and staff and captivated their audiences with tales on their careers and anecdotes from life on tour.

Ex-Hertfordshire Men’s and Colts player Wallace expressed his hopes that his unconventional route to the top can inspire England Golf’s current performance squads.

Speaking from his base in Florida, World No. 43 Wallace relived his amateur days, his trials and tribulations grinding away on the Alps Tour and then his breakthrough with victory at the Portuguese Open in 2017.

Among the many questions posed were some from players such as Farnham’s England Girls international Lottie Woad, who was also a promising footballer on Southampton Ladies’ books.

Current Portuguese Amateur Champion Harry Goddard – who also plays for Hertfordshire, Wiltshire’s Scottish Amateur Strokeplay winner Jake Bolton and Yorkshire’s Ben Schmidt, the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy at 16, nearly a year ago, also fired off questions.

Fitzpatrick – a five-time winner on the European Tour and a member of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team – was keen to stress how important it is for players to take nothing for granted.

They need to realise that hard work can be the key to success said the 2012 winner of the Selborne Salver, a competition won 12 months earlier at Hampshire’s Blackmoor GC, by Ryder Cup team-mate Andy Sullivan.

Matt Fitzpatrick talking to England Golf squad members in the online Q&A

Matt’s unconventional rise to top

WALLACE explained just why he was happy to meet the request of England performance director Nigel Edwards to speak to the rising stars of the English game.

“I feel it’s important for the players to realise there can be more than one way to reach the top,” said Wallace from the renowned Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound.

“I was in the England Golf set-up, but kind of on the fringes of it and always pushing for attention.

“The year prior to my involvement with England, the squad was amazing.

‘Then a number of guys turned pro at the same time – Tom Lewis, Andy Sullivan and Steven Brown included – and I came in from nowhere to the elite squad.

“I maybe didn’t feel as if I’d earned my stripes and didn’t back myself as a golfer as much as I should.

“But I gave it everything, was proud to be in the set-up and enjoyed good experiences in places such as Argentina and the Czech Republic.

“When I didn’t get picked for and England v France match and knew that my chances of Walker Cup were slim, I decided to turn pro.

“I was then grinding away on the Alps Tour for four years with people saying you can’t be that good if you are four years on the Alps Tour.”

Hallamshire GC’s Matt Fitzpatrick on his way to victory in the Selborne Salver in 2012. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

US Amateur win sealed Walker Cup place

FITZPATRICK enjoyed a terrific amateur career – the highlight being when he won the US Amateur Championship in 2013, just 12 months after being crowned British Boys Champion.

Victory at Boston’s Brookline Country Club – with his brother Alex on the bag – meant the Hallamshire GC member was picked for the GB&I Walker Cup team that lost heavily at Long Island’s National Golf Links of America later that month.

Alex also ended up on the losing side against the USA at Hoylake, in September.

Both brothers took up golf scholarships in America.

But Matt cut short his stay at Chicago’s NorthWestern University – where NCAA champion Luke Donald had spent four years from 1997-2001 – after just one term.

He turned pro after appearing in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 as the reigning US Amateur Champion.

Matt had also won the Silver Medal as the top amateur at the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield.

Twelve months earlier he had been a member of the England Boys team.

The 25-year-old – currently No. 25 in the world rankings – admitted: “It was great to be a part of the England Golf set-up as an amateur, and I wanted to be able to give a little back in terms of advice.

“I worked with some great coaches – Steve Robinson, Graham Walker and John Jacobs among them – and the structure and focus of the England Golf sessions were great for me.

Fitzpatrick tells England’s best ‘play smart’

Matt Fitzpatrick won the Selborne Salver in 2012. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURE

“I remember my first session at Woodhall Spa when Graham told us all we were to be up for a run at 7am the next morning.

“But I liked that discipline and planning that went into every aspect of our coaching.

“The message I wanted to get across to the squads was that golf isn’t easy.

“And to remember that while you can compete at national level, there are kids in Spain, Sweden and all over the world working just as hard to make the top.”

Fitzpatrick’s “play smart” approach to golf was a theme of his session, while his thoroughness in preparation from practice round technique, physical conditioning – through to on course strategy – was strongly evident.

During a detailed and insightful interactive session, Fitzpatrick fielded plenty of questions.

England Girls’ squad member Rosie Belsham, Cornwall’s Women’s Amateur Champion Emily Toy quizzed the Sheffield star, who won his maiden pro event at Woburn, in the 2015 British Masters.

And another Selborne winner – Sussex’s Charlie Strickland – Fulford’s Charlie Thornton and Jack Brooks, from Cheshire, who was runner-up in last year’s Lytham Trophy, also posed questions.

Matt Wallace at the Hampshire Hog in 2012 – the England Elite squad member turned pro a year later but then spent several years struggling before his career took off in 2018. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

From Elite squad for four years struggling on Alps Tour

DURING his frank Q&A session, Wallace spoke with real honesty about the memory he had of one day sitting on the couch at his parents’ home – and reflecting on where his career was heading at the age of 24.

His friends had good jobs and houses and he was living at his parents “winning 50p on the Alps Tour.”

Having asked himself if he still wanted this sort of life aged 27, Wallace set about changing into a player “who would stop at nothing” to reach the top.

Wallace went on to win six times on the Alps Tour in 2016, including a remarkable five victories in a row.

That earned promotion to the European Challenge Tour – his breakthrough win came in the Portugal Open in May 2017, followed by three European Tour victories in 2018.

His Made in Denmark win in front of European captain Thomas Bjørn was not quite enough to gatecrash the 2018 Ryder Cup.

But it was one hell of a ride from those days of struggling on mini-tours.

Matt, who started as a junior at Batchworth Park, in Rickmansworth, said: “My dad always encouraged me to act like a sponge with information – knowing that at any time you could squeeze out things that you didn’t like or which weren’t appropriate.

“It was great to do this Q&A and I hope some of the things I said were of use to the England players.”

Wallace, who grew up in Pinner, claimed the Peter Benka Trophy at the South East Qualifier at Stoneham GC, in 2010.

He then headed to Jacksonville State University where he played for the Gamecocks – the same Alabama college where Danny Willett had spent two years on a golf scholarship before winning the English Amateur in 2007.

In 2018, he returned to Moor Park, where he was also a member and held a clinic for juniors at the Rickmansworth club’s First Degree Golf Academy.

•Tommy Fleetwood, Chris Wood, Danny Willett, Bronte Law and Meg McLaren are lined up among a host of professionals ready to pass on knowledge to England’s class of 2020, as they continue to learn during a restricted period of lockdown.

The post Fitzpatrick and Wallace put down the welcome Matt to England’s stars of tomorrow appeared first on Golf North.

The 2019 St Andrews Links Trophy winner Jake Burnage – the 2020 championship has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Picture by ST ANDREWS LINKS

THE St Andrews Links Trophy – which produces Europe’s strongest strokeplay field – has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The St Andrews Links Trust took the decision after the Government’s lockdown was brought in to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, earlier this week.

The cancellation also affects the St Rule Trophy – a leading strokeplay event in the women’s amateur calendar.

The men’s annual 72-hole championship played over two of the St Andrews Links Trust’s five championship courses – with three rounds normally played on the Old Course annually – was due to be played from June 5-7.

A spokesman for the Trust said: “Following discussions with the organising committees of both the St Andrews Links Trophy and St Rule Trophy, we have taken the decision today (Thursday), to cancel the 2020 staging of both of these annual amateur tournaments.”

The St Andrews Links Trophy’s most famous winner was Justin Rose, who was just 16 back in 2007 – the year he made his Walker Cup debut for the Great Britain and Ireland team against the USA as the youngest player in the competition’s history, having just turned 17.

The Trust’s director of golf John Grant said: “The health and wellbeing of our teams, entrants and their families is our number one priority.

“Following the closure of all our facilities and with many countries and regions recommending self-quarantine and continued restrictions on travel, we felt that it was not practical or appropriate to stage this year’s tournaments.

“With both events attracting entrants from around the world we wanted to make a decision as early as possible.

“We look forward to the return of both the St Andrews Links Trophy and St Rule Trophy to St Andrews Links in 2021.”

The St Andrews Links clubhouse

Just two have won St Andrews twice

CRAIG Watson – who captained Great Britain and Ireland}s Walker Cup team at Royal Liverpool last year – is one of only two players to have won the St Andrews Links Trophy twice in its 32-year history.

But he was beaten to the claim of being the first to win the championship twice by Walker Cup star Barclay Howard, who won at St Andrews in 1994 and 1996.

Watson claimed the famous trophy in 1992 – five years before he would claim the Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s.

The East Renfrewshire GC member returned to St Andrew’s two months after his debut in the 1998 Masters at Augusta to lift the trophy again.

Howard, who was a member of the 1995 Walker Cup team that conquered Tiger Woods & Co. at Royal Porthcrawl, was in his early 40s when he began winning big amateur event.

The Cochrane Castle GC member had been made redundant by Rolls-Royce in 1993 and dedicated, his time to playing full-time against the best amateurs.

Howard was the oldest GB&I player in both Walker Cups he was selected for – and was a team-mate of Justin Rose’s in the 1997 defeat at Quaker Ridge, in New York, after claiming the Silver Medal as the low amateur at The Open, at Royal Troon, a month earlier.

With so many winners in the 21st Century turning pro either after their victory at the Home of Golf, or within 12-24 months, the chances of a second victory – let alone back-to-back are very slim these days.

Many winners have gone on to secure their Walker Cup place by winning the St Andrews Links Trophy in an odd year – although the 2019 champion Jake Burnage, from Saunton, was not picked for the match at Hoylake, in September.

Royal Liverpool’s European Challenge Tour winner Matthew Jordan (2017), Hampshire’s Neil Raymond (2013) and Hertfordshire’s Tom Lewis (2011) are three of the five English winners in the last decade.

All three made their Walker Cup debuts in the year of their victory at St Andrews while Ireland’s Alan Dunbar – the winner in 2009 – is one of a small number who did not make the Walker Cup in the year they won at the Home of Golf.

Richard Finch – who won the 2002 English Amateur Championship at Walton Heath – won the St Andrews Links Trophy in June 2003

Finch turned pro after St Andrews Link win

YORKSHIRE’S Richard Finch turned pro in the summer of 2003 after winning the St Andrews Links Trophy.

The Hull GC member was also due to defend the English Amateur crown he won at Walton Heath, in August 2002, and missed out on a Walker Cup appearance at Ganton in September, after signing for Chubby Chandler’s ISM Group.

Wales’ Llewellyn Matthews – the wire-to-wire winner in 2007 – and Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman, who lifted the trophy in front of the famous R&A clubhouse in 2005, both made the Walker Cup team after their victories.

Meanwhile Essex’s two winners – Matthew Southgate (2010) and Oliver Fisher (2006) – went on to earn their European Tour cards.

Fisher also broke Rose’s record when making his Walker Cup debut in 2005 as a 16-year-old.

As well as Saltman, a member at Craigielaw, Scottish winners include Grant Forrest (2014), who also hails from the same club, Carnoustie’s Kier McNicoll (2008) and Leven’s Jamie McLeary (2004).

The latter followed West Linton’s Simon McKenzie’s triumph in 2002 and Colville Park’s Steve O’Hara in 2001, who went on to play in GB&I’s famous win at Sea Island that August.

The team – led by Peter McEvoy – contained future PGA Tour winners Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell – while Scotland’s Marc Warren, Essex’s Richard McEvoy and three-time Faldo Series winner Nick Dougherty all went on to win on the European Tour.

It was the first GB&I team to successfully defend the Walker Cup by winning on US soil.

The winners of the St Andrews Links Trophy have their photo taken standing on the famous Swilcan Bridge, which runs across the 18th fairway on the Old Course.

Huizing’s low-total record in St Andrews Links Trophy

HOLLAND’S Daan Huizing holds the championship record for the lowest 72-hole total in the St Andrews Links Trophy.

The Dutchman won with a 23-under par total of 264 – playing one round on the New and three on the Old.

That was four shots better than Jake Burnage’s winning total in 2019 when the Devon ace played the Jubilee and the Old.

The first-ever winner was Russell Claydon, from Cambridge’s Gog Magog GC, back in 1989.

Australian Stuart Bovier, who succeeded Claydon, Holland’s Daan Huizing (2012) and Italy’s Federico Zucchetti (2015) are the only three overseas winners in the last 32 years.

In total, 11 Englishmen and 11 Scotsmen have won the title with Ireland providing two of the winners in the last four years – Conor O’Rourke in 2016, and John Murphy in 2018.

The date in the men’s amateur calendar clashes with a number of English counties annual championships, which has meant some of England’s top players over the past two decades have missed out on winning their own county championship.

That list includes Hampshire’s Sam Hutsby, Scott Gregory and Harry Ellis who all reached the final of The Amateur Championship, while Corhampton’s Neil Raymond achieved a rare double by winning the Brabazon (twice in 2011 and 2012 ) as well as the St Andrews Links in 2013.

The 11th hole on the Jubilee Course, which is used regularly in the St Andrews Links Trophy

Jubilee and New used as second course for Links Trophy

THE second course used for the St Andrews Links Trophy normally rotates between the Jubilee and the New.

Out a field of 144 – determined by the Official World Golf Rankings and a number of nominations from national golf unions – the top 40 players after playing a round on each course, play 36 holes on the Old Course.

In the past there have been times when used of the Old has been restricted, normally when St Andrews is playing host to the Open Championship in the same year.

And normally every five years, the players get to play the Old Course when the stands for The Open, plus the relevant signage, is already in place.

The championships in 1999 and 2000 were reduced to 36 holes because of the weather, while the 2015 event was cut to 54 holes for the same reason.

The ninth hole on the New Course, also used regularly for the St Andrews Links Trophy

Week-long St Andrews festival ‘remains on’

THE St Andrews Links Trust also organises a week-long festival of amateur events each August for players of all ages and abilities which are still scheduled to take place at present.

The trust spokesman said: “The annual fortnight of competition hosted by St Andrews Links Trust for amateurs of all ages and abilities in August, including the St Andrews Boys’ Open, remains in the diary at present.”

But they are subject to “continued monitoring and review,” he added.

“If there is any change in their status entrants will be contacted immediately,” said the spokesman.

The Links Trust also organises the St Andrews Junior Ladies’ Open, and the Eden and Strathtyrum Trophies every summer.

The organising committees of the two cancelled events – the St Andrews Links and St Rule Trophy – are committed to refunding all entry payments within 10-14 days.

“Entrants do not need to contact the tournament team in order to request a refund, these will be processed automatically via the original payment method,” said the trust spokesman.

•Entries for the 2020 Boys’ and Junior Ladies’ Open close in June. For details click here.

Allyn Dick, from Kingsfield Golf Club, who won the Eden Trophy in 2019. It was first played for back in 1919. Picture by ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST

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Royal Wimbledon’s Ryan Lumsden leads the 2020 Journey to Jordan No. 2 at Ayla Golf Club, after two rounds – and wants to record his maiden MENA Tour win in just his third start

ROYAL Wimbledon’s Ryan Lumsden has been knocking on the door since his MENA Tour debut last month… today he has the chance to grab his maiden victory.

He has what could be a crucial two-shot lead after an extremely windy second round of the $75,000 Journey to Jordan No. 2 at the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club.

The London-based Scotsman shot a superb bogey-free 69 to take his 36-hole tally to six-under – two clear of Somerset’s Walker Cup player Tom Sloman (70) and Essex’s Benjamin David (71).

Lumsden will be playing the Byron Nelson Classic on the PGA Tour in May after winning the 2109 Byron Nelson Award while in his final year at Northwestern University – the same Chicago college where Luke Donald played golf.

Lumsden, who qualified for the 2018 US Open as an amateur, was pleased with the way he handled himself on a difficult day.

“It was a little windier and touch trickier than yesterday, but I played solid,” said the former Scottish international.

“It was all about missing it in the right places and hitting smart shots. I kept the ball out of the wind pretty nicely,” added Ryan.

He started with a birdie on the par-four 10th, then made an up-and-down on the par-five 17th – before making his final birdie of the day on the third hole where he wedged it to tap-in distance.

“I just hit one bad shot today, on the par-four seventh hole, and it did not get into the water and stayed on the edge,” said Lumsden. “But the game was pretty consistent, and my lag putting was good.”

After back-to-back 69s, Lumsden was relishing the chance to test himself again in a final round after recent near-misses.

He played the last two holes to one-over and lost in the play-off in the Qualifying School at Ayla GC, in January.

At the Journey to Jordan No. 1 on the same course in February, he was one shot off the lead, but had a poor final round.

Last week in Bahrain, Lumsden was two-over for the last four holes to lose by two as Yorkshire’s David Hague became the latest rookie winner on the MENA Tour in 2020.

“I have been learning from those mistakes and trying to figure out how I can play the golf I have been playing when I am down the stretch and get over that hump and get my first win on the MENA Tour,” added the 23-year-old, who earned his first Official World Golf Ranking points in Bahrain.

“I have been thinking about it lately. I did a much better job in Bahrain last week,” Lumsden revealed.

“My mistakes weren’t really mental out there. Just a couple of good shots ending up in positions where I did not think they would.

“I just need to stick to the process of hitting one good shot after another.

“It’s really going to be a case of staying in the moment and not letting my head get in the way and thinking ahead.

“I just see it as another opportunity to figure out my stuff coming down the stretch and I see it only helping me down the line,” added Lumsden, who was named in the original Walker Cup squad a year ago, but did not earn selection to play America at Royal Liverpool.

Knipes chasing down Lumsden

ANOTHER Essex pro – Curtis Knipes – playing in his first season as a professional, stayed in contention in the race to catch Lumsden after a level-par 72.

That tied him for the fourth place at three-under par alongside American Ben Schlottman (68), Dorset’s MENA Tour veteran Luke Joy (70) and the Swedish pair of Filip Lundell (70) and Ake Nilsson (71).

Overnight leader Mitch Waite started in sensational fashion by making an eagle on the par-four 10th hole after driving the green.

But four subsequent bogeys dropped the Gloucestershire player – who played in the World Amateur Team Championship for England two years ago – down to solo ninth place at two-under.

Sloman, who has been a picture of consistency in his debut season on the MENA Tour, was two-over par after eight holes.

But the former England international, who turned pro after playing for Great Britain & Ireland against the USA at Hoylake, in September, pulled it back with four birdies coming in.

They included two in his last two holes, the eighth and ninth, having started from the 10th.

The race to earn the start in the Trophee Hassan II on the European Tour was still on between David Langley and Hague.

Langley made the cut on the number, while Hague was tied 34th and will need to finish inside the top-10 depending on his rival’s finish to get the start in Morocco, in May.

Hague, playing in the same group as Sloman, was one-over at the turn and replicated his playing partner’s scores on the closing two holes to add a 71 to his overnight 69.

The cut came at nine-over with 49 professionals and one amateur – India’s Arjun Gupta – proceeding to the final round on Wednesday.

•To follow live scoring click here.

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Sebastien Gros (right) with Ali Mohamed, director of Operations at the NewGiza Golf Club after his two-shot victory over Yorkshire rookie David Hague

FRENCHMAN Sebastien Gros is determined to resuscitate his career this year.

And the two-time Challenge Tour winner made a brilliant start in that direction by claiming the inaugural NewGiza Open.

Gros said: “This is fantastic. I have worked very hard this winter along with my team.

“To get a win so early in the season is surely going to give me a lot of confidence going forward.”

The Frenchman took full advantage of the easier opening stretch of NewGiza Golf Club’s stunning course built in an old quarry against the backdrop of Cairo’s famous Pyramids.

Gros made three birdies in his first four holes, and then added two more in a round which saw him hit 16 greens in regulation.

“I missed the green on the eight and had a poor tee shot on the 16,” said Sebastien Gros.

“Those were the only two holes where I had to battle for pars. It was very solid otherwise.

“I got off to a good start and was very pleased when I two-putted for birdie from 95 feet on the third.

“That was a very good first putt to tap-in distance despite facing two or three breaks,” Gros added.

“Immediately after that, I hit what was possibly my best shot of the day on the fourth – a five-iron against the wind to about six feet.

“It was after that fourth hole that I felt I could win this. My long game was very good throughout the day once again, and even though I missed a few other birdie chances, I putted well too.”

The 31-year-old – who lost his European Tour card in 2018 after playing at the highest level for three years – started the final round two shots behind overnight leader Curtis Knipes.

But having overtaken the 2018 English Champion of Champions, Gros finished two ahead of eventual runner-up David Hague.

Gros played a second straight bogey-free round on his way to a five-under par 67 that was one better than his second-round 68 to post 13-under.

It proved enough to claim the winner’s cheque of $13,500 and moved him into second place on the Journey to Jordan rankings, with a place in next year’s Dubai Desert Classic going to the eventual MENA Tour Order of Merit winner.

Hague close to victory at NewGiza in just second start on MENA Tour

YORKSHIRE’S former England amateur international David Hague charged through the field with a seven-under par 65 on Thursday.

Young Hague, who decided to turn pro after securing his card at the MENA Tour Qualifying School, almost turned his second start as a professional into a dream win.

Last year’s Lee Westwood Trophy winner could have finished much better than his eventual 11-under total.

But Hague paid the price of making a late bogey on the par-five 17th hole.

Hague entered the MENA Tour Qualifying School as an amateur, turned pro right after securing his card.

And he was delighted with his performance this early in his professional career, having faded out of the race for a Walker Cup call-up against the Americans at Hoylake last year, after being a regular in the England set up for three years.

“I got off to a hot start and was eight-under par through 13 holes,” said Hague.

“Slightly disappointed with the finish as I missed a birdie chance from six feet on the 15th, then three-putted from 15 feet on the 17th hole for my only bogey of the day.

“I also missed an eight-footer on the 18th,” said the 23-year-old, from Malton and Norton GC, near York.

“But seven-under par is a great round and I am really pleased with the way I have played, especially after missing the cut last week in Jordan.”

•Castle Royle’s David Langley, who finished tied eighth at NewGiza, leads the Journey to Jordan after two events, following his victory in the Journey to Jordan No. 1 last week.

Sebastien Gros trails Langley by $735 as the players prepare for the third of the 11-strong schedule for the firts half of the MENA Tour season.

Purcell takes third on MENA Tour debut

IRELAND’S Conor Purcell made a great start to his MENA Tour career as well, finishing tied third after a closing 67.

The Portmarnock pro, who played in Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup defeat against the Americans at Hoylake, in September, finished alongside the promising Swede Niclas Weiland, who carded a 68.

Overnight leader Knipes meanwhile never got going after a triple-bogey seven on the par-four eighth hole.

The Essex ace, who qualified to play in last year’s Open at Royal Portrush, finally finished tied fifth at nine-under par, along with Scotland’s Scott Henry and Dorset’s Abu Dhabi-based pro Luke Joy, after both shot 69s.

The MENA Tour by Arena next moves to Muscat, Oman, for the Ghala Open from February 17-19.

The winner of the tournament gets a spot at the European Tour’s Oman Open, held the following week.

•For details of the players entered in the Ghala Open click here.

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Curtis Knipes faces a final round challenge from two-time European Challenge Tour winner Sebestien Gross who trails the Essex rookie by three shots in the MENA Tour’s NewGiza Open

CURTIS Knipes faces a final day threat from France’s European Challenge Tour winner Sebastien Gros in the MENA Tour’s NewGiza Open.

Rookie Knipes may well have to rely on his three shot cushion as he seeks a maiden win in his just his second MENA event.

The two-time Essex Amateur Champion, from Chelmsford Golf Club, played in the tougher afternoon session to stay ahead of the field

The teenage pro shot a four-under par 68 in the second round of the $75,000 NewGiza Open, the first-ever MENA Tour event in Egypt.

The 19-year-old former England junior started the day from the 10th tee with a two-shot lead at NewGiza Golf Club, which has Cairo’s famous Pyramids as a a backdrop.

Curtis made the turn at one-under par with a bogey on the 18th.

Knipes’ second nine was even better as he picked up three shots without dropping any to take his 36-hole aggregate to 10-under, having shot 66 on Tuesday.

“I was happy with that round. It’s always good to follow up a good first round with a solid second to keep yourself in contention,” said Knipes, who qualified for last year’s at Open at Royal Portrush.

Knipes, who is playing only his second event as a professional, added: “Tomorrow is obviously a big day for me.

“It’s the first time leading the MENA Tour and being in the final group of the day. I will just try and approach it as I have done every other day.

“I can’t control what others are doing. I am just going to go out there and shoot the lowest round that I can,” said the 2018 English County Champion of Champions.

England’s 19-year-old Bailey Gill shot the best round of the tournament so far – a seven-under par 65 – to climb to second place at nine-under.

Twenty-two-year-old Gill, who hails from Worksop and plays at Lindrick Golf Club, started with a bogey on the 10th hole, his only mistake of the day.

“It was very cold out there in the morning and I was first off, said the player from the same Nottinghamshire town as Lee Westwood.

Gill added: “I hit a driver and wedge into the 10th yesterday, and it was a driver, three-iron today.

“But I played well after that,” said Gill, who matched the course record at NewGiza Golf Club.

“I will continue doing what I have been doing so far. Just stick to my notes and put up a performance that is hopefully good enough.”

Gros ‘lost motivation’ with no card

SEBASTIEN Gros, who lost his European Tour card after the 2018 season, was bogey-free for his round and hoping to get back to winner’s circle tomorrow.

The former European Tour player, who is a two-time winner on the Challenge Tour, was in tied third place alongside the promising Swede Niclas Weiland.

Both players shot successive round of four-under par 68

Gros said: “Always happy with a bogey-free round. I played well and hit 17 greens in regulation so I did not have to worry too much about getting my pars.

“I just wish I was as efficient as yesterday on the greens, but I should not complain after a 68,” added Gros.

“It was good to finish with a tap-in birdie on the 18^th after I missed chances on every hole from the 14^th to 17^th.

“The last year was very disappointing, but it was very hard to motivate myself to play on the Challenge Tour after spending three years at the highest level on the European Tour,” said Gros giving an insight into the mental challenges players face trying to get to the top.

“My friends told me some very good things about the MENA Tour and how it can be a great preparation for the season, and I decided to come” said Sebastien.

“Hopefully, tomorrow I will be in contention over the last nine holes.”

Conor Purcell, the promising young star from Ireland, was even par for the five par-five holes on the new Egyptian course.

But the last year’s Walker Cup player – who claimed the 2019 Australia Amateur Championship, still shot a 67 to rise to fifth place on seven-under.

The Portmarnock member, who made his first appearance in a pro event in last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open while still an amateur, made his pro debut in November’s New South Wales Open, having reached No. 10 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Purcell, who has signed for American management firm Wasserman, also received an invite into the Emirates Australian Open, at The Australian GC, in December, as the Australian Amateur Champion, but missed the cut by seven shots.

•Click here for live scoring from the third and final round of the NewGiza Open.

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Chelmsford Golf Club’s Curtis Knipes shot a superb 66 – with no bogeys – to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the NewGiza Open, on the MENA Tour’s first visit to Egypt

ESSEX’S Curtis Knipes was the main man in only his second start as a professional on the opening day of the $75,000 NewGiza Open.

The 19-year-old, who came through Final Qualifying to play in The Open at Royal Portrush last summer, fired a superb, bogey-free 66 to take a two-shot lead.

Knipes’s six-under par round gave him top spot on the leaderboard The first-ever MENA Tour event in Egypt.

At the 7,351-yard, par-72 Thomson Perrett & Lobb-designed golf course, Knipes made full use of the calmer early morning conditions.

The Chelmsford GC member was quick off the block with five birdies in his first seven holes, but then battled hard as the wind picked up.

The former England junior interntional then proceeded to make nine straight pars, before picking up his only shot on the back nine – on the par-five 17th hole – to open up a handy two-shot lead at the top.

A happy Curtis Knipes said: “Obviously, very pleased with a bogey-free round.

“It did get a little frustrating to make nine straight pars after such a hot start because when you are on a roll, you want them coming,” added Knipes, who is a two-time Essex Amateur Champion.

“I had good birdie chances on the ninth, 12th and 15th, before I finally made one on the 17th.

“I thought I hit a good three-quarter pitching wedge shot into the par-five hole, but was left with an 18-feet downhill putt and I luckily rolled that in,” said Curtis.

“I really like the golf course. It’s a good layout and it is in great condition. The greens are a bit tricky, but they are rolling nice.”

Why Curtis Knipes has pedigree of Faldo, Lyle, Westwood & Fleetwood

SEVEN players shot rounds of 68 to be in tied second place, but none could get closer to Knipes, the 2018 England Champion of Champions – a title won by the likes of Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood.

That group included Scotland’s Scott Henry, promising Swede Niclas Weiland, France’s Sebastian Gros and Lancashire’s former England international Joshua McMahon, Wiltshire’s Robbie Busher, Joe Heraty, Leeds, and Tom Sloman, the Somerset Walker Cup player.

The reigning Professional Journey to Jordan champion, South Africa’s Maither Keyser started his 2020 campaign with a two-under par 70, which left him tied for the 15th place.

That round included an eagle and four birdies.

Henry, a past winner on the Challenge Tour, had an almost diametrically opposite start to that of Knipes, missing birdie chances on his first six holes, including the second from five feet and on the third from about a foot.

“I was really struggling with my putter on the first few holes,” said the 2012 Kazakhstan Open champion.

“But I was happy with the way I was hitting the ball, controlling it well especially with my irons.”

“A lot of missed chances, but I am happy with a four-under par start. I am playing good and just need to sharpen up the putter a bit and hopefully, I will be contending.”

Busher and Heraty continued to show the form that helped them finish winner and joint runner-up in last week’s Troon Abu Dhabi Pro-Am, while Sloman continued his strong start to the MENA Tour in Jordan, where he finished tied second.

Castle Royle’s David Langley, winner of last week’s Journey to Jordan No. 1, started well with a 70.

UAE’s only professional, Ahmed Al Musharrekh fought back well from being two-over after six holes to finish on 71.

•To follow the progress of Curtis Knipes and the chasing pack in the second round of the NewGisa Open, click here.

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West Cornwall’s Harry Hall, who has remained in Las Vegas after graduating from UNLV last summer, was among the early leaders in round two of the South African Open.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CORNWALL’S Harry Hall continued the bright start to the West Countryman’s professional career as he fired a 68 at Randpark inthe second round of the South African Open.

That score saw him move into a share the clubhouse lead in the European Tour event, hosted by the City of Johannesburg.

Hall, who played in Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup defeat against the USA at Royal Liverpool, in September, only made his professional and European Tour debut at last season’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

He did not disappoint then, outscoring playing partner and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy in the final round as he finished in the top 20.

Hall moved to nine-under alongside local favourite Daniel Greene, who fired a 66.

That was one shot behind overnight leader Johannes Veerman.

South African Hennie du Plessis made five birdies in a row from the third on the Bushwillow Course,

He then added another on the ninth to become the first man into double figures before dropping two shots.

Thirty-four-year-old Greene was also playing the Bushwillow Course.

He turned in 32 with birdies on the fourth, seventh and eighth, before sandwiching another gain on the 12th with bogeys on the 11th and 14th.

A hat-trick of birdies from the 15th catapulted Greene up the leaderboard – but he soon had Hall for company.

The Las-Vegas based Englishman, who graduated from the golf programme in the gambling capital in Nevada last summer and is sponsored approriately by MGM Resorts, was also playing the Bushwillow.

Hall, who was the first Cornish player to have appeared in the Walker Cup since Philip Rowe in 1999, was level-par for his round after 11 holes with two birdies and two bogeys.

Harry Hall and Gough win leaves GB&I two points clear of USA in Walker Cup at Hoylake

But birdies on the 12th, 15th and 17th gave him a share of top spot.

Cheshire’s Matthew Baldwin, Peter Karmis and JC Ritchie were all on course in the morning at eight-under, with Italian Nino Bertasio, who was second after the first round, also at that mark but among the later starters.

•To follow live scoring at Randpark, click here.

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