Adrian Otaegui finally added a strokeplay victory to his two matchplay wins on the European Tour – reeling in Matt Wallace’s five-shot advantage in the Scottish Championship.
Pictures by GETTY IMAGES

ADRIAN Otaegui produced a brilliant closing round of 63 in the Scottish Championship to storm to his first 72-hole strokeplay victory on the European Tour.

The Spaniard has shown himself to be an expert at head-to-head battles. He won both the 2017 Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay and the 2018 Belgian Knockout.

After those first two European Tour victories, Otaegui showed all those skills again as playing partners Matt Wallace and Garrick Porteous fought out a three-way showdown at Fairmont St Andrews.

Otaegui entered the day four shots behind overnight leader Wallace. But eight birdies in 11 holes from the fifth helped him finish at 23-under par – four clear of the Hertfordshire ace.

“I’m very happy to win here in Scotland, the home of golf, next to St Andrews, said Otaegui. “It feels like a very special win for me.”

“Strokeplay is my favourite way of golf, I think it’s the proper way. You have to play very solidly and very consistently all four rounds, which I think I did.

“I’m very happy to be able to win strokeplay as well, my third win on the European Tour. I have no words.

“The whole week went very well. Started with a very good round and I just tried to do a reset after every day and start from zero.

“I felt very good on the golf course, hit some very good shots. Today again, I just wanted to give myself some opportunities, chances.

“I think I did, I hit some very good iron shots into the green. I holed some very good important putts, so I’m just very happy.”

A view of St Andrews from Fairmont’s Torrance Course, host of the Scottish Championship

Otaegui didn’t look at leaderboards

EVENTUAL winner Otaegui admitted he had not looked at the leaderboards as he made his way around the Torrance course overlooking St Andrew’s Bay – and the town synonymous with the Open Championship.

He added: “I knew more or less how Matt and I were. But I just tried to do the best I could.

“If I played my best, I knew I was going to be up there. You can’t control what others are going to do.

“I just tried to focus on myself – tried to feel confident and tried to feel good, and that’s what I did.”

After an opening round of 62, Otaegui’s Sunday 63 bookended his week beautifully as he dashed any hopes of a Wallace win in Scotland, evoking images of Braveheart.

The final round of nine-under par saw him get over the line after three runner-up finishes in strokeplay events, including this season’s English Championship at Hertfordshire’s Hanbury Manor.

And it also meant Otaeguis joined countryman Rafa Cabrera-Bello as a Spanish winner of the Scottish Open.

Matt Wallace was the bookies’ favourite to land the Scottish Championship with a round to go

Rai edges ahead of Porteous and Paisley

WOLVERHAMPTON’S Aaron Rai continued his recent excellent form to finish in third place on 17-under par.

The West Midlands-based pro claimed a Wee Wonders title at St Andrews as a youngster.

And he looked capapble of contending for the second time in three weeks before finally finishing six shots adrift.

The recent winner of the Scottish Open finished a shot clear of Northumberland’s Chris Paisley and Porteous. The latter challenged for the title until falling away down the stretch.

Porteous won the Amateur Championship in 2013. He has one Challenge Tour victory to his name in the 2017 Prague Golf Challenge.

But the Bamburgh Castle GC member made an expensive double on 16th. He then made his third bogey of the day on the penultimate hole to share the €88,000 prize for fourth place with Paisley.

It was still the 30-year-old’s biggest pay day of his career so far. It more than doubled Porteous’ earnings for 2020, having finished 14th at Qualifying School last year to earn his first full card.

•For full results click here.

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The 22-year-old, who claimed victory at Royal County Down last year, is aiming to become the first player since Sweden’s Louise Stahle to retain the championship, back in 2005.

Having progressed on the cut mark during qualifying, Toy found her form in the matchplay stages to continue her quest for a historic success at the spectacular North-West links.

In the championship’s 117th staging, Toy saw off the challenge of Roehampton’s Isabelle Simpson.

Her one-hole win in the morning, was followed by a comfortable 5&4 triumph over Ireland’s Jessica Ross.

Toy said: “I’m trying not to give up the title. Obviously, making the cut on the mark was a relief and coming through two rounds I’m pleased to be where I am.

“It was a really good match this morning and I was pleased to get the win,” added the Carlyon Bay member.

“This afternoon I played nicely again. I have been struggling a little bit with form coming into this event. So it has been nice to actually see some nice shots.

“At the start of the week, in my eyes, the trophy was out there for anyone to win.

“I’m just coming to an event trying to win like everyone else. If I can keep doing the right things and if that is good enough at the end of the week then great.

It’s my first time here and I’m really enjoying it,” said Toy, who missed out on the chance to play at Augusta in April because of the COVID-19 crisis, which saw the second ever Augusta National Women’s Amateur cancelled along with the Masters.

Is Price right for Emily’s double?

LUDLOW’S in-form Emily Price, who won the English Women’s Amateur Championship earlier this month, maintained her bid for more glory.

She beat Iceland’s Hulda Clara Gestsdottir 2&1 to reach the last-16 where she will face Lithunia’s Gilė Bitė Starkutė.

Denmark’s Amalie Leth-Nissen – who was the leading qualifier on countback – lost out to her older sister, Cecilie, at the final hole in an emotional contest in the opening tie of the day.

It was a notable triumph, given Cecilie is ranked 765th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking compared to Amalie who sits at 47th.

However, Scotland’s Hannah Darling, the Girls’ Under 16 Open Champion in 2018, then ended the hopes of Leth-Nissen in the afternoon with a one-hole victory.

Seventeen-year-old Darling said: “It feels good to reach the last-16. I was just solid out there today.

“In both matches I think I was two-down after three. So I’m just really proud of how I ground it out and stuck in there.

“It’s the type of golf course where anything can happen. I wouldn’t say it is a course you can go low on. You have to grind it out and scramble.

“I heard Cecilie had a close game in the morning with her sister. I’m friends with them both, and it was then nice to have a good match against her too.

“It’s my first time in the Women’s Amateur. But it’s matchplay and I’ve done well in those events in the past. So I just have to keep it going.

“I’m probably younger than most people out there. But as my dad says, age has nothing to do it with it, and it’s about performing,”said the Broomienknowe teenager.

Florida’s Fuller still in as German marches on

ROEHAMPTON’S newly crowned English Strokeplay champion Annabell Fuller is also in the last-16.

The University of Florida ace first beat Royal Cromer’s fellow England international Amelia Williamson 2&1, and St Mellion’s Megan Giles 5&4 in the second round.

Of the other leading qualifiers, Whitley Bay’s Rosie Belsham lost to Annabel Bailey, from Leicestershire’s Kirby Muxloe by one hole.

Bailey was then knocked out by Kent’s Shama Dutrieux at the 23rd hole.

Italian Alessia Nobilio, the World No. 5, quietly went about her work to reach the last 16. Meanwhile two German players – Paula Schulz-Hanssen and Aline Krauter – also progressed.

Schulz-Hanssen, who has already won the Swiss Amateur title this year, was delighted with her progress.

She said: “I’m happy to be in the last-16. I played pretty good today.

“I played 32 holes in the two matches and I had 12 birdies and only four bogeys. It is tough playing 36 holes in the one day.

“I was level par for the strokeplay qualifying, but today was even better,” said last year’s European Young Masters winner.

“The course is so beautiful to play, so amazing. There are so many holes where you can really attack the flag.

“If you hit good shots, you can get good results. It’s my first time playing in the event and I’m playing well,” said Schulz-Hanssen, a member of Europe’s 2019 Solheim Junior Cup team.

Humphreys waiting for putts to drop

ESSEX’S Lily May Humphreys, the highest-ranked English player in the field, now faces Schulz-Hanssen in Friday’s showdown.

The Stoke-by-Nayland player who was runner-up to Price at Woodhall Spa, said: “It feels really good. It’s my best so far in this championship.

“I haven’t done that great in it before. Hopefully I can carry on through tomorrow to the semi-finals,” added Humphreys, who won the Irish and Welsh Strokeplay titles last year.

“I feel like I played solid today, tee-to-green – just didn’t hole a massive amount of putts,” Lily May added.

“It was less breezy out there today. A little drizzle in the afternoon, but the conditions were better.”

Meanwhile Italian Carolina Melgrati also exited at the 19th to Wales’ Ffion Tynan.

Tynan continued her form as she defeated Berkshire’s Irish international Laura Webb, the oldest player in the field at 57, with a 2&1 victory against the East Berkshire veteran.

Webb was named captain of Ireland’s national team for 2020 and won the Irish Seniors championship in 2019.

That win completed the first-ever Irish Ladies slam by winning the Girls, Women’s and Over 50s titles during her career.

West Lancashire’s Hollie left to Muse after defeat

THERE was disappointment however for West Lancashire’s Hollie Muse and Scotland’s Hazel MacGarvie, who were knocked out at the last-64 stage.

The other England players still in the hat are Carus Green’s Caitlin Whithead after her wins over Scot Lorna McClymont, from Milngavie, by 4&3 – and last year’s English Amateur Champion Ellen Hume, from Mill Green, in Hertfordshire, by 4&2.

Fourteen-year-old Chiara Noja, who was born in Germany and raised in the UK, faces another teenager in Nobillo.

The latter is the current Italian and Portuguese Amateur Stokeplay Champion.

Dutrieux, from Wrotham Heath, will play another Italian in the shape of Emilie Paltrinieri, last year’s German Girls Champion, after her win at the fifth extra hole.

The matchplay continues, with the last-16 and quarter-final ties played, ahead of Saturday’s semi-finals and the 18-hole final.

There are significant rewards for the champion with exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open and traditionally, the US Women’s Open, The Evian Championship and Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.

•Follow live scoring at RandA.org as well as on The R&A’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

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Gainsborough, UK (24th August, 2020): PING Pro, Andy Sullivan, is paying tribute to the NHS heroes who have worked tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic by putting a one-of-a-kind PING tour bag up for auction.

The bag, which features a panel designed by UK-based business CMYK – Design, Copy & Print, has been used by Sullivan during each event that he has played in the European Tour’s UK Swing, part of the reworked schedule for 2020. This included his seven-shot victory in the English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

Featuring a rainbow design, which has become synonymous with public support for the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis, the bag will go up for auction today to coincide with this week’s UK Championship at The Belfry; the final leg of the UK swing. The auction finishes next Monday, August 31^st at noon.

“It’s impossible to put into words how thankful and proud we as a nation are of our amazing NHS staff,” commented Sullivan. “The work that they carry out every day is an example to us all, and what they have done over the past few months has been nothing short of superhuman.

“Auctioning off this bag is my way of saying a small thank you to each and every one of our NHS heroes, so I hope that we can raise as much money as possible for such a great cause.”

All proceeds raised from the auction will go towards NHS Charities Together, a membership organisation representing, supporting, and championing NHS Charities. In particular, the Covid-19 Urgent Appeal is helping NHS staff, volunteers and patients tackle the Covid crisis, and has so far raised over £130m.

To find out more, or to place a bid in the auction, visit https://givergy.uk/golfbagauction.

For further information on NHS Charities together, visit www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/.

The post PING Pro Andy Sullivan Launches Auction To Support The NHS appeared first on Golf North.

Ex-Royal Green Jackets officer Rupert Kellock from Sunningdale GC, won the English Seniors Amateur title at Woodhall Spa by three shots. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

SURREY’S Rupert Kellock held his nerve and holed the crucial putts to march to victory in the English Senior Amateur Championship.

As befitted a former Army officer, Kellock played with military precision on the back nine to earn a deserved three-shot victory.

He denied defending champion Ian Attoe the chance to complete a hat-trick in the process.

And Kellock held off a challenge from fellow England senior international Trevor Foster and Maxstoke Park’s Stephen Creed.

The ex-Royal Green Jacket began the final round a shot adrift of three-time winner Attoe – who was going for three in a row – and Sussex’s Andrew Smith, from Royal Ashdown Forest.

However, a one-over par round of 74 around a baked and windswept Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, in Lincolnshire, allowed Kellock to achieve his career highlight.

His finishing total was two-over par after previous rounds of 70 on the Hotchkin and a 76 on the Bracken Course at England Golf’s headquarters.

Kellock – a member at Sunningdale Golf Club – won with a flourish. Birdies at 12, 16 and 18 allowed him to add his own national title to the Welsh crown he won in 2018.

After the victory, Kellock admitted: “It’s terribly pleasing and I’m dead chuffed as they would say.

“It’s always great to win anything and to win the national title is fantastic.

“It’s the largest national title I’ve won and to have beaten Ian Attoe, who has dominated this event for five years makes me very proud.

“I hit the ball a lot better than I scored and was quite comfortable as I was hitting the ball so well. The problem was I wasn’t quite sure what the other scores were.

“Anyway, you play one shot at a time and get on with it and the fact was I was hitting the ball really well makes life so much easier – middle of the fairway, middle of the green, two putts and walk on.”

Pars like birdies on tricky Hotchkin

ON a day when the wind dominated proceedings and made the front nine particularly treacherous for the leading players, pars were treated like birdies.

Kellock started with three pars, but four dropped shots between the fourth and the 10th holes were a setback.

The nerves were steadied however, with a brilliant iron into the short 12th hole. The ball danced around the hole and finished a foot from the cup.

After that tap-in birdie, Kellock found himself tied for the lead with Accrington’s Foster who had started the day three shots behind the leaders.

Foster had dropped only one shot to par at the turn and a birdie at 13 actually put him a shot clear of Kellock again.

But then came Kellock’s nerveless finish capped by a six-foot putt on 18 which caught the right lip of the hole and tumbled for a closing birdie.

Worplesdon’s Attoe couldn’t quite produce the form of the first two days in order to claim a third title on the spin.

The 61-year-old had been struggling with the putter all week and he couldn’t find the touch on the greens when he needed it most.

Iron play was key for Sunningdale’s Kellock

KELLOCK’S closing stretch of holes left him thrilled and in particular the iron play which left him with excellent opportunities for birdies when others were simply grateful for par.

On making birdie at two of the final three holes, Kellock said: “It’s very satisfying as I’d three putted from 20 feet on 14 for a par which was disappointing.

“On the 16th, I hit it to 18 inches and on the 18th I had a two-putt birdie. It was a very, very nice way to finish.

“It sounds very good to be introduced as a champion and I’d like to be English national champion again next year as well.”

Attoe took the prize as the leading player in the 60-64 age group while Kent’s John Wright, from Wildernesse GC, finished first in the over 65s with a 12-over total, having started with an excellent 70, before adding scores of 86 and 74.

Next year’s championship will be held at Blackmoor Golf Club and the Army Golf Club in Hampshire.

•For scores at the English Senior click here.

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Worplesdon GC’s Ian Attoe is aiming for a third English Seniors Championship win in a row when he returns to Woodhall Spa after he played in last week’s English Amateur. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

DEFENDING champion Ian Attoe believes the quality and strength in depth will be on show at this week’s English Seniors Championship.

Last week Attoe took his hat off to fellow “golden oldie” Paul Wharton who – at the age of 59 – made the quarter-finals of the English Amateur Championships at his home club Woodhall Spa.

Attoe, from Surrey, is certain that there is plenty more good golf to come from Wharton and the other 143 competitors taking part in the over 55s championship as England Golf’s headquarters takes centre stage again.

The Lincolnshire venue will stage the 54-hole strokeplay event less than a week after Gloucestershire’s Jack Cope was crowned English Men’s champion – while Ludlow’s Emily Price took the Women’s title for the first time.

The English Seniors will be played on both the Bracken and Hotchkin courses as were last week’s two national championships.

Thursday’s round will be on the Hotchkin and Friday’s on the Bracken.

A cut will be made with the top 60 players completing for the trophy on Saturday on the Hotchkin – rated one of the best parkland courses in the UK.

Lincolnshire return for champion

ATTOE is out to make it a hat-trick of wins after success at Sherwood Forest and Coxmoor, in 2018, and last year at Holme Hall and Elsham, also in Lincolnshire.

That might be easier said than done – especially if Wharton plays to form around the Woodhall Spa courses he knows so well as a member, and if the rest of the field also rise to the occasion.

“It was great to see Paul – a fellow England team-mate – do so well last week,” said 61-year-old Attoe. “He just showed what can be done.

“The Hotchkin can be a fierce test. But Paul and some others showed that there is a score to be made out there.

“The standard of the seniors’ game is going up and up.

“In the past there might not have been some particularly good scores that have won it. But I think even though it’s two tough tracks this week, the scoring will be good.

“There’s so much quality in the field that I could list a whole host of players who could challenge.”

And as for his own chances, the Worplesdon GC member added: “I played some shots last week in the men’s amateur that gives me hope going into this. I didn’t score very well, but there were signs.

“This is a special championship – if you are only going to win one event the whole season then this is it.

“Every year I look to play well and aim for the top three or four – and I’ve been lucky enough to win it three times.

“I like Woodhall Spa as a venue – I’ve played it a lot over the years in the central England men’s events and it has two terrific courses.”

Paul Wharton is a team-mate of England Senior international Ian Attoe and has the advantage of playing on his home course at Woodhall Spa this week. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Seniors championship offers friendly rivalry

A FEATURE of the seniors amateur championship over the years has been the camaraderie off the course.

And while there will be changes to the norm for this year – because of coronavirus crisis – the spirit of friendly rivalry will not diminish.

England Seniors international Attoe added: “The disrupted season certainly affected my motivation to practise when I wasn’t sure there would be any tournaments to aim for.

“We were all extremely fortunate get out playing social golf at our clubs from May. But there was nothing competitive to aim for at that stage.

“I’m extremely pleased England Golf have been able to re-schedule this event and given us old boys something to focus on.

“It is fiercely competitive, but it’s also played in an extremely friendly atmosphere.

“In regular times we all spend almost as much time enjoying each other’s company in the clubhouse as we do out on the course.

“But I’m sure we will all still enjoy our week.”

•To follow live scoring at the English Seniors click here.

Attoe was fourth player to defend English Seniors crown in nearly 40 years

IAN Attoe became just the fourth player to successfully defend England’s Over 55s title in 39 years in 2019.

He joined Alan Squires, Roy Smethurst, and Sussex’s Doug Arnold in achieving the feat – although Smethurst, from Cheshire’s Crewe GC, is the only player to have done it twice, in 2004/5 and 2000/1.

Lancastrian Squires, from Saddleworth, is the only player to have won the trophy three years in a row since the competition was founded in 1981.

Smethurst has the most wins – four in that period – while Attoe joins Sonning Common’s David Lane, Squires, Arnold, and Cheshire’s G M Edwards, who all have three each.

Attoe’s first win came at his home club Worplesdon, back in 2015.

The post Attoe: Seniors game’s never been so strong as Woodhall’s Wharton is dangerman again appeared first on Golf North.

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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Ludlow GC’s Emily Price joined the likes of Trish Johnson, Rebecca Hudson and Julie Hall by winning the English Women’s Amateur Championship – beating Lily May Humphreys. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAHY

LUDLOW’S Emily Price celebrated the biggest win of her career after coming from behind to defeat Lily May Humphreys in the English Women’s Amateur Championship final.

Price claimed a 4&3 victory over the England international in a thrilling 36-hole final, at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, in Lincolnshire.

The Shropshire star also became just the seventh player to win both the English Women’s Amateur and Strokeplay title in their career.

That matches the likes of LET stars Trish Johnson and Rebecca Hudson, as well as Scottish-based pro Julie Otto.

She won three national championships as Julie Hall (nee Wade), to go with her two strokeplay victories between 1987 and 1995.

However, the 2020 final score did not tell the full story of a game that ebbed and flowed. And one that perhaps turned with one putt on the 18^th hole of the morning round.

After being two-down to 18-year-old Humphreys for most of the back nine, Price clawed a hole back at the 16^th.

But she found trouble off the tee at the par five, 18^th hole.

However, a smart bunker shot followed by a brilliant wedge and a 15-foot birdie putt saw her head into lunch all-square and with a spring in her step.

A par-birdie start after lunch edged Price into a lead that she never surrendered. Victory was sealed on the 33rd hole on the Hotchkin Course.

For Humphreys, there was deep disappointment a year after losing to Ellen Hume in the final.

However, the Essex golfer – who won the Sunningdale Foursomes before the COVID-19 lockdown came in March – can be proud of her efforts at the home of England Golf.

The glory, though, belonged to Price who cradled the trophy – first played for in 1914 – as she described the best win of her career.

Essex’s Lily May Humphrey’s lost in the final for a second year in a row. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

‘Birdie at the 18th hole was pivotal’

WHEN asked if her birdie on 18 in the morning was significant, the new champion admitted: “Yes – 100 per cent.

“To come in not one-down and to hole a decent length birdie gave me momentum and positive energy,” said Price.

“Lily came out and was playing unbelievable. I was two-down and scraped it back on 18 to get all-square.

“Then I started hot in the afternoon and kept the momentum going.

“The aim was fairways, greens and two putts for pars. I finished three-under which was ok.”

Price underlined her star potential as a 16-year-old by winning the English Women’s Strokeplay Championship in 2016.

Now the sky’s the limit for Price as she prepares to return to Ohio’s Kent State University, in America, for the final two years of her golf scholarship.

After being introduced as the 2020 English Women’s Amateur champion, she said with a smile: “It sounds amazing and feels even better.

“To come and take the win after a very long week is unbelievable. And to perform the way I have is the best feeling you can ever get as a player,” she said.

“It’s been a few years since I won – a distant memory. But it feels good to be holding this and having won an event of this calibre, now I’m 20 years old.

“It will really help boost me and get me going for the rest of the season.”

Great to be back playing golf says new champ

AT the start of the week 66 of the top women amateurs in the country teed it up for two rounds of strokeplay. The top 16 made it through to the knockout stages.

In a safe and secure environment – and with the men’s amateur championship running alongside the women’s for the first time in England Golf’s history – players were able to concentrate on their game.

Price spoke on behalf of the golfers when she said: “It’s been great to get back out there – all of us haven’t played in so long.

“The event has been set up great by England Golf and Woodhall Spa Golf Club and the players have appreciated it – as well as managing boys and girls at the same event.

“It’s been great to have the boys here too and see so many competing.”

•For the full results from Woodhall Spa, click here.

Dorset’s Hayley Davis who won the English Amateur Championship in 2010 at Broadstone

Davis was last player to complete English double

THE other players to complete the English Women’s Amateur and Strokeplay double are Dorset’s Hayley Davis, Yorkshire’s Emma Duggleby, and Lancashire’s Fiona Brown.

Davis, from Ferndown, claimed the English Women’s at nearby Broadstone in 2010 – four years before winning the Strokeplay crown at Tandridge, in Surrey. She is now an LET Access Tour player.

Hudson and Duggleby were Yorkshire and England team-mates and dominated the women’s amateur ranks in the late 1990s and early 21st century.

Hudson’s English Women’s win came at West Sussex in 2001, a year after her strokeplay success at Silloth-on-Solway.

Duggleby won the Strokeplay at Broadstone in 1998. The biggest win of her career came two years later at Hunstanton. It also denied Hudson any chance of the double in the same year.

Johnson, who played for Middlesex before turning pro, is the only player to have won both titles in the same year.

Suffolk’s Julie Wade, a member at Felixstowe Ferry, won the English Strokeplay in 1987 at Northumberland GC. She claimed her first national crown at Little Aston a year later.

Her second Strokeplay came in 1993 at Kings Norton, in Coventry, after her first marriage. Hall then won the English Amateur back to back in 1994 and ‘95, at The Berkshire and Ipswich GC respectively.

Only four women have won the English Championship back to back – the last was Bronte Law in 2014 and 2015.

The post Price is right for Emily as she becomes seventh player to complete English double appeared first on Golf North.

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club is often quoted as one of the most scenic golf courses in Britain and with views of Lindisfarne, the Farne Islands, the Cheviots and of course Bamburgh Castle, the course is one of the truest links experiences to be had in England.

This is a must-play golf course – join us and enjoy unforgettable golfing experiences

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Bamburgh Castle Golf Club 3rd Hole

Contact Us:

The Secretary/Manager
Bamburgh Castle Golf Club
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Bamburgh
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NE69 7DE.

By Telephone:

(01668) 214378 (Clubhouse)
(01668) 214321 (Secretary/Manager)

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Visit the Bamburgh Castle Golf Club website.

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Scot David Law shot a fine 64 to lead the Betfred British Masters after the first round of the European Tour’s UK Swing at Close House. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DAVID Law fired a flawless seven-under opening round 64 at the Betfred British Masters to take a one-stroke lead at the first tournament of the European Tour’s UK Swing.

The 29-year-old Scot, who has one European Tour title to his name, hit a red hot streak with seven birdies in eight holes from the sixth.

The only par during that run came courtesy of a wondrous save from the heavy gorse at the 11th.

Law said: “I was playing steady. You might not be sure what to expect coming into today after the long break. I was delighted with that.

“It’s still a little strange, but the Tour have done a fantastic job. So far I think it’s gone really well.

“The club has hosted us really well. It’s a new time for us, we’re all learning and we’ll all have to get used to it.

“The whole week so far has been very positive,” added the two-time Scottish Amateur champion.

“We’ve been lucky at home and not had anyone affected by the illness, thankfully.

“My daughter is 19 months old, so to have that extended time at home, I’ll never get that again. We had a great time.

“It was a nice time for me because I wasn’t playing the best going into that break. It was a good time to recharge and regroup.”

Fisher so happy be back playing golf

DAVID LAW, who won last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open, finished the day one shot clear of Essx’s Oliver Fisher and Northumberland’s Garrick Porteous.

The English pair matched Italy’s Renato Paratore, who carded a round of 65 at Close House Golf Club, on the outskirts of Newcastle.

Fisher, who famously became the first player to shoot a 59 on the European Tour in Portugal two years ago, said: “I added my score up at the end and it’s weird to think I’ve shot 65 today.

“Obviously I’m chuffed about it. It’s weird to be back and playing professional golf, and I’m delighted with my score.

“I started off okay, the pins here and the greens are quite tricky in places. They tuck them and there are ridges on the edges of the greens where it can fall off and they can catch you out.

“There was a little bit of rain and it was quite fiery. There was a bit of a skid going, so with wedges early on it was hard to get close.

“I travelled up a couple of days ago, we’ve got a nice run in the UK. A lot of things to enjoy and hopefully we can all continue with social distancing and sticking to the routine of doing everything as properly as we can.

“The Tour have been great at stressing that to us. I’m delighted to be back and delighted with my score.”

Local knowledge helps Garrick Porteous

Garrick Porteous who won The Amateur Championship in 2013.
Picture by DAVID CANNON

GARRICK Porteous, who won The Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in 2013, revealed a lot of local knowledge had contributed to his good start.

The 30-year-old, who played in the 2013 Open and made his Masters debut in 2014, has been confined to the Challenge Tour for most of his six years as a professional.

Porteous, who earned his European Tour card at last year’s Qualifying School, said: “I’ve played a few mini-tour things in the Leeds area.

“But I live 15 minutes from here, so I’ve been practising here a lot. I’ve played the course for so many years now anyway.

“It’s in great condition. I’m pretty familiar with the course, but its in the best condition I’ve ever seen it.

“Knowing the course so well can put a bit more pressure on you. I probably felt that early on.

“Once I settled down and made some birdies it was alright. I made some good swings and some good birdies.”

Physical work in lockdown pays off for Paratore

PARATORE, who hails from Rome, said: “I played really solid. I had a bogey-free round and played really well from tee to green.

“I started really well with three birdies, I saved a couple of pars with some really good putts – a solid round.

“It was a good way to come back. It was good to know the European Tour was starting again.

Renato added: “It wasn’t easy during the lockdown. I’m really happy to be here right now.

“During lockdown I didn’t practice, just physically and rested a lot,” said the Italian, who lost a play-off to Danish teenager Rasmus Højgaard in Mauritius, in December.

“Then golf courses reopened, so I started to practice a lot in June. So I prepared well for the first tournament,” said the winner of the 2017 Nordea Masters.

Tournament host Lee Westwood, battled to a one-under 70 while Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell had a solid start on his return to golf after four months out, signing for a four-under 67.

•For live scoring in round two and to follow David Law click here.

The post UK Swing kicks off with David Law in order after precious time with family appeared first on Golf North.

Whether you are an individual golfer or part of a large group, Seaton Carew Golf Club is the ideal place for a great day’s golf. No matter which of our five layouts are in play you’re guaranteed a good test of your golfing abilities, on our tightly-mown fairways and fast running greens. As you thread your way between almost one hundred deep-faced bunkers and contend with whatever the elements throw at you, one thing’s for sure, breaking par will be quite an achievement. See what some of our recent visitors think by clicking the picture to go to the Endorsements page.

SEATON CAREW GOLF CLUB
Tees Road, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, TS25 1DE
secretary.seatoncarewgolfclub@gmail.com

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