Andy Sullivan’s English Championship win at Hanbury Manor was his first since the Portugal Masters in 2015, and moves him to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ANDY Sullivan cruised to a commanding victory at the English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

The former Ryder Cup player claimed his fourth European Tour title and his first in nearly five years in the process after his win at the Portugal Masters in 2015.

The Walker Cup winner held the lead in the UK Swing’s third event from the second round – when he carded a course-record 62.

And the Nuneaton boy never relinquished his place at the summit.

A third round 64 handed the 34-year-old a five-stroke advantage heading into the final day at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, and he never let up on a frazzling final day as the thermometer headed to the high 80s.

An eagle three at the par five second hole quashed the early hopes of a determined chasing pack.

The latter included Spain’s two-time European Tour winner Adrian Otaegui, whose five-under front nine made him a leading contender for an upset.

Otaegui got to within two with six to play, but Sullivan picked up four shots down the stretch to seal the deal with a six-under par 65 and a 27-under total – winning by seven shots from the Spaniard.

Sullivan sheds a few tears after win

THE normally chirpy Sullivan was left sharing some tears after speaking to his family in a live video link after walking off the 18th

He said: “I’m proud of myself. I wasn’t quite stuck in the doldrums. But it just hasn’t quite happened for me since those three wins in 2015 – and it feels like a weight off my shoulders now… I think it told out there.

“I never really felt comfortable out on the golf course all day, I found it quite a battle the whole way around until I started dropping a couple of putts on the back nine and my lead started increasing.

“I was always on guard today, I knew Adrian was there breathing down my neck.

“But it’s nice to come down those last few holes and know the job was done.

“I got to the green at 12 and I saw him birdie that hole to get to within two so I knew that was going to be quite big.

“I holed it, and then had a great two-putt on the next and then two really good putts on 14 and 15 which were massive.”

Adrian Otaegui pushed Sullivan as hard as he could despite being six shots behind. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Otaegui: Sully was at another level

OTAEGUI was looking for this third win on the Euorpean Tour – and his first since claiming the Belgian Knockout in 2018.

Adrian said: “I’m very happy with my round, very happy with my week overall.

“Obviously, congratulations to Andy, he’s played at just another level. The rounds he’s played this week were amazing.

“He played some very very good golf. But I’m very happy with my score, I had a very good start which was good.

“I was feeling very good. I was rolling the ball very well all week really and was feeling very confident.

“I holed some good putts for birdie today, saved a couple of pars as well. I had very good pace on the long putts as well. They were finishing quite close to the hole which is always quite good to tap it in. ”

The new champion, who won three times in 2015 – including twice in South Africa to earn a place in Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine a year later – moved from 42nd to 15th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

It also moved him to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit after three events.

The top 10 after the sixth and final tournament will share an additional £250,000 from the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative, to donate to the charity of their choice.

The top 10 – not otherwise exempt after the fifth event – will also gain spots in the US Open at Winged Foot next month.

Wentworth’s Steven Brown could not convert his many birdie chances on Sunday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Brown beaten as the putts fail to drop at Ware course

SULLIVAN was paired with Wentworth’s Walker Cup team-mate Steven Brown, who finished on 17-under after seeing a number of putts brush the hole.

Brown, who played in the same Great Britain and Ireland team that beat the USA at Royal Aberdeen in 2011, as Sullivan, was looking for a second win, having claimed the Portugal Masters title in November.

That end-of-season win also saved his European Tour card.

Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard was one shot further back in third in the English Championship, with young South African Wilco Nienaber on 18-under par, having got into the event as an alternative at the 11th hour.

Højgaard, who won a play-off in Mauritius in December, admitted a US Open debut was top of his priorties after securing his card as the third-youngest winner in European Tour history at just 18.

Rasmus said: “I think the last two days, my scoring has not been a low as I want it to be.

“But I’ve been fighting and grinding my way through the rounds and I’m happy to shoot a low one today.

“I’ve been consistent I guess. I’ve been having a good couple of weeks, happy with how my game is trending.

“Obviously that US Open spot is what I want right now and I have booked my ticket there now so I’m happy with that.”

•To see the final results from Hanbury Manor click here. And to see the current mini-Order of Merit list click here.

The post Sullivan glad to be back in winner’s circle at Hanbury Manor after five-year wait appeared first on Golf North.

Northern Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin leads the English Championship after the first round at Hanbury Manor having shot a superb 63 as one of the late starters. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

An opening round of 63 by Cormac Sharvin was enough to open up a one-shot cushion over a congested leaderboard in the inaugural English Championship.

The Northern Irishman dropped just two shots to reach eight-under par – on a day of perfect scoring conditions at Hanbury Manor Marriot Hotel and Country Club – to move one ahead of a group of six players.

The English trio of Jack Senior Laurie Canter and David Howell had all held the lead. Lancastrian Senior had gone out in 29, and got to eight-under before two late bogeys saw him drop back.

Canter and Howell – who holed his second shot on the 15th – also dropped shots on the 17^th to fall back into the pack.

They ended round one of the third event of the UK Swing alongside Belgian Thomas Detry, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, and Australians Min Woo Lee and Jason Scrivener.

Sharvin said: “It was a nice round – played really well, Didn’t do too much wrong. Put it on the fairway, hit a lot of good shots and holed a few putts as well and it all added up to 63.

“Pretty happy to start well. A long way to go. But it’s always nice to shoot a good score on the first day and not put yourself out of it.

“I feel like last week I didn’t play too badly.” Cormac added: “I just struggled on the greens.

“I did a lot of work with Dean Robertson my old college coach, who has been caddying for me on the UK Swing.

“Did a lot of work on my putting process and it seemed to work. Hopefully it keeps going in that direction and see where it takes us,” said Sharvin.

English pair in hunt at Hanbury

CANTER and Howell sit one shot ahead of a group of nine players, including Belgian Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts and rising Danish star Rasmus Højgaard.

The pair recorded rounds of 65 to sit at six-under after the European Tour returned to the Hertfordshire venue for the first time since 1999.

Canter, from Somerset, said: “I got off to a great start. I said to my caddie on the putting green I didn’t feel like I was getting to grips with the greens.

“Then on the first hole I holed a 60-footer right across it. Funny how that happened.

“Played really nicely. I’d have that swing back on 17, but I’m happy with today.

“I have tried to do things a bit differently because we have the opportunity to. I’ve always played with keeping the card hanging over my head.

“Someone I work with asked ‘how are you going to approach the game differently?’ It’s not rocket science.

“I’ve tried to do a couple of things. It’s early to say it’s working. I’ve only played nine rounds.

“It’s been more enjoyable – which is one thing I’ve taken out of it and I’m having fun out there. We’ll see how long that continues.”

David Howell’s last win came in 2013 in the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews

Howell: I just needed a good start

TWO-time Ryder Cup winner Howell has struggled to replicate his big wins of 2006 after a long-term back condition hampered his career.

The Broome Manor GC member, from Swindon, has now been on tour for 25 years and has five wins including the HSBC Invitational in 2005, when he beat Tiger Woods in Shanghai.

Howell, whose last win came in the Alfred Dunhill Links seven years ago, said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve put a good first round on the board to be honest. It’s what I’ve been crying out for.

“I’ve played some reasonable golf in spurts since we’ve come back but haven’t got off to a great start.

“Today it happened so it was lovely. Nice to see my name somewhere near the top of the leaderboard, if not the top.

“There was a lovely family, the only gallery we would have, in their property behind the 15th green.

“Might be the only golf fans we play in front of for the entire UK Swing.

“They happened to be sat there on their own lawn when the ball went in. They were the give away that it was indeed an eagle.”

Howell was the clubhouse leader with the six others until Sharvin overtook them late in the afternoon.

Detry on a roll after English Open near miss

THOMAS Detry has been touted by many people as a winner in waiting on the European Tour and lost out to Florida-based Mancunian Sam Horsfield in last week’s English Open.

Detry, who made nine birdies in his 64, said: “It was really good. Built up a bit of momentum from last week I think.

“I got off to a really good start, with an eagle chance at the second, a birdie putt at the third.

Detry added: “I was just rolling – had four more birdies on the last four holes of the front nine.

“Then I kept it going. I made two little mistakes on 11 and 17 but I’m very pleased with the way I’m playing golf right now.

“You’ve just got to forget about it and this week is just another chance to put my name up there and have a chance on Sunday.

“That’s what I think I’ve done today and hopefully I can keep going the next few days. Last week was not easy.

“I played some really good golf but Sam Horsfield hit an amazing shot on 17 to birdie that hole and beat me by one, so we just move on.”

Min Woo Lee has been tipped for thE top. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Min Woo Lee hopes he turned corner at Ware

ANOTHER young player touted for great things is former US Junior Amateur Champion Min Woo Lee.

He said: “I just striped it awesome. I hit it really good with my irons and my driver and rolled a few in.

“I think my longest putt was 25 feet, so I was pretty happy with that. It’s scoreable but you’ve also got to hit your shots.

“I hit it really awesome and close to the hole so it gave me a lot of opportunities.”

Lee, who sister is an LPGA winner, narrowly missed out on his European Tour card for 2020.

But he picked up the ISPS Handa Vic Open title in February to regain his playing privileges.

And he admitted the UK Swing had not started well for the 22-year-old before his arrival at Ware’s Hanbury Manor, in Hertforshire.

Lee said: “The results weren’t there for me. I missed the cut. I felt pretty down after those two and then you come out here and play really good.

“That’s golf. I worked hard in my break and on the weekends when I missed the cut. So it’s nice to come out here and shoot a good score.”

•Follow Cormac Sharvin and live scores in round two by clicking here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Højgaard looking for win No. 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Detry will just keep on trying for maiden win

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lee Westwood won the English Open at Hanbury Manor in 1998

Westwood knows how to win at Hanbury Manor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hanbury Manor’s Gabriella Cowley had to dig deep to claim her £5,000 winner’s cheque after winning the fifth Rose Ladies Series event at the JCB Golf & Country Club. Picture by LET

FORMER England international Gabriella Cowley, from Essex, dug in for the victory at the JCB Golf and Country Club, in Staffordshire.

Cowley’s round of 70 for a two-under par finish saw her enjoy a slender one shot winning margin over no fewer than six of her nearest rivals including LET stars Georgia Hall and Charley Hull.

Cowley has been in great form throughout the Series finishing third at the first event at Brokenhurst Manor.

And the 24-year-old has not finished outside the top-14 so far this summer.

A delighted Cowley, who survived a nervous finish after a stirring start, said: “This means a lot to me. I have worked extremely hard during lockdown.

“I changed my putter at the start of this week and was five-under-par through 15 holes and playing really well.

Gabriella added: “I did have a bad finish, but it does not matter now.

“I played really well, and a key highlight was making three consecutive birdies to start the back nine.

“The course was playing long and it is a tough test. But the condition of it was unbelievable and it was a really good set-up.”

Cowley, who won the £5,000 winners cheque, added: “The support from Justin and Kate Rose – and the sponsors putting these events on – means a lot to all of us. And it is great to now be a winner of one.

“Every event has been superb and its nice to be playing tournaments.

“These events and the win will give me a big confidence boost heading back into the restart of the Ladies European Tour season.”

Cowley holds off chasing pack

COWLEY, who is attached to Hertfordshire’s Hanbury Manor GC, finished ahead of a group of players tied for second position on one-under.

That pack included Solheim Cup stars Charley Hull, from Woburn, and Dorset’s Georgia Hall, plus last year’s Jabra Ladies Open champion Annabel Dimmock, from Wentworth, Scotland’s Heather MacRae, Aussie Whitney Hillier and Wales’ Chloe Williams.

Gabriella Cowley claimed her maiden professional win with victory in the Rose Ladies Series event

Cowley, who hails from Harlow, came up via Essex Ladies’ junior ranks. She turned pro in 2014 and has made 47 starts on the LET since her rookie year in 2016.

She produced two top 10s in 2019, her best results to date, having started on the LET Access Series in 2015 – just six years after taking up the game.

Hull announced that she will now not travel to play in the States when the LPGA resumes later this month.

Instead the Woburn G&CC ace will continue to play the remaining Rose Ladies Series events in the build-up to August’s AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon, with the LET’s Scottish Open, a week before at The Renaissance GC, in North Berwick.

Hull was originally planning to fly to the USA this week to meet the two-week quarantine required before playing in the Drive On Championship, in Toledo, on July 31.

The LPGA winner was then set to play in the Marathon Classic, also in Ohio.

But after winning the first Rose Ladies Series event at Brokenhurst Manor last month – followed by top sixes in the next three events – the 24-year-old from Kettering is targetting the American Golf Order of Merit.

Gemma Dryburgh – who won the last two events, including at Royal St George’s – has now flown back to America to rejoin the LPGA.

Paul McDonnell, Rose’s agent at Excel Sports who are running the series, said: “I’ve spoken to Justin and Kate and they are thrilled that Charley is to carry on playing.

“To have someone of Charley’s status is, of course, a big boost. We completely understand why Gemma felt she needed to be back on the LPGA Tour to fight for her playing status, and we wish her all the best.

“The series is going from strength to strength and is sure to get even more exciting.”

Worcestershire’s talented US college golfer Emily Price finished 15th in her first Rose Series event before she returns for her third year in the States, playing for Kent State University. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY.

Price made flying start at JCB

ONCE again there was another fine showing from the lone amateur in the field – Emily Price, the 2016 English Women’s Strokeplay champion.

Emily Price can take some pride from her round of 74 which saw the Kent State University student finish in 15th place.

The Ludlow Golf Club member got off to a flying start with a birdie at the opening hole in the fifth event in the Rose Ladies Series.

Bogeys at the fifth and eighth halted her charge, but another birdie at the par three, ninth hole allowed her to reach the turn in a level par total of 36.

A tough back nine for Price started with two bogeys at 10 and 11.

However, another birdie at the 12th, a run of five pars and a dropped shot at the last allowed her to sign for a score of two-over par.

Price, who started life as a member at Cleobury Mortimer GC, also claimed the Scottish Girls Open title and the English Girls Order of Merit in 2016.

She transferred from University of South Carolina in March to join Ohio’s KSU for her third and junior year in the NCAA.

•For full scores from the JCB club click here.

Berkshire’s Bearwood Lakes is one of the most highly-rated courses in the South

Two more before Grand Final at Wentworth

THE Rose Ladies Series features eight tournaments, culminating in the three-day Computacenter Grand Final.

It will be held across three courses, North Hants, The Berkshire and Wentworth’s West Course, from August 5-8.

There is a £35,000 prize fund for the Order of Merit, sponsored by American Golf with £20,000 for first, £10,000 for second and £5,000 for third place.

Next week, Gabriella Cowley and the rest of the ladies roll on to week six with an event at Bearwood Lakes GC, in Berkshire before the penultimate event at The Shire London, a week later.

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uropean Tour chief executive Keith Pelley revealed no player will lose their Tour card in 2020 when he announced the new playing schedule including a UK Swing of six events

EUROPEAN Tour chief Keith Pelley has guaranteed no players will lose their playing rights as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc with its international schedule in 2020.

So any player who was inside the top 110 on the Order of Merit at the end of the 2019 season, will keep their cards for 2021, regardless of where they finish on the 2020 Race to Dubai.

As a result, the European Tour Qualifying School will not take place in November – along with the stage one and two qualifiers in September, October and November.

There will also be no automatic promotion from the Challenge Tour – the top 15 on the Race to Mallorca Order of Merit would normally earn their European Tour card for the following season.

The Challenge Tour’s schedule has also been dramatically curtrailed with the first six European-based tournaments between May and July either postponed or cancelled.

But the European Tour chief executive has reassured players they will reward any “exceptional” performances on either the European and Challenge Tours in 2020.

The exact details of any such rewards will be announced by the European Tour Tournament Commitee, said Mr Pelley.

Pelley added: “While the intention remains to crown a new Race to Dubai Champion on December 13, as part of the changes to the end of the 2020 season caused by the impact of COVID-19, the European Tour’s Tournament Committee recently agreed that all members’ 2020 categories, and their ranking within that category, will be retained in 2021 – with related playing rights being protected to the absolute maximum possible in the 2021 season.”

There will also be no minimum number of tournaments that need to be played in 2020 to guarantee membership for next year, he added after a unanimous vote by the powerful Tournament Committee, which includes players’ representatives as well as European Tour officials.

Pelley added: “We recognise that when we resume playing golf, each player’s circumstances will be different.

“We therefore do not want to put anyone in a position whereby they feel they have no choice other than to play in certain events in order to protect their livelihood.

“Similarly, the feeling was that it was not fair to disadvantage any member who might want to play in an event but who might not be able to due to ongoing travel restrictions.

“Therefore, in consultation with our Tournament Committee, it was agreed preserving their exempt status for 2021 was the fairest solution in these unprecedented times.”

EUROPEAN TOUR CREATES NEW ‘UK SWING’ WITH SIX EVENTS

Pelley thanks sponsors for support

THE European Tour chief went out of his way of praising the hosting venues and sponsors of four of its biggest Rolex Series events in helping to create the new UK Swing announced today.

Keith Pelley said: “Since the suspension of our 2020 season in early March, we have taken a measured approach in reassessing our schedule – informed every step of the way by our medical advisers and government guidance.

“We have consistently said that safety is our absolute priority and that is why we are announcing our resumption in two months’ time – supported by a comprehensive health strategy, which has been led by our medical team.

“Without question we have had to think differently about the remainder of our 2020 season which is reflected in today’s announcement.

“As golf’s global tour, diversity is ordinarily one of our biggest strengths. But in this instance it has become one of our biggest challenges.

“Initially, therefore, based on the expert guidance we received, playing in clusters, in one territory, is the best option in terms of testing, travel and accommodation.

“I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank Betfred, Close House, Marriott, the Forest of Arden, Hanbury Manor, Celtic Manor Resort and The Belfry for sharing our vision for this ‘UK Swing.’

“We look forward to returning to tournament play in July with this innovative stretch of six events.

“As well as getting golf going again for our players, our broadcasters, our stakeholders and our millions of fans around the world, these new events will also enable us to give back during these unprecedented times, building on some of the community support already given by our players over the past few months.

“I also want to pay tribute to Rolex, BMW, Aberdeen Standard Investments, the Scottish Government, Nedbank, Sun International and DP World, for their continued commitment to the European Tour, which allowed us to move four hugely important tournaments into new dates later in the year.

“Not only did they show flexibility, they also showed understanding of the current global situation and we are truly fortunate to have them as partners of the European Tour,” added Keith Pelley.

The European Tour will return to action at Close House, with the Betfred British Masters, from July 22-25. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The post Keith Pelley pledges: ‘No European Tour players will lose their cards in 2020’ appeared first on Golf North.

Hanbury Manor’s Harry Goddard finished one shot ahead of two players to win the 90th Portuguese International Amateur. Picture by FILIPE GUERRA / Portuguese Golf Federation

HERTFORDSHIRE’S Harry Goddard played with real courage and conviction coming down the stretch to win the Portuguese International Amateur Championship.

Those characteristics came as no surprise to those who have been by the former England junior international’s side over the past few, difficult months as he battled back from a serious illness. The England A-squad player was fully entitled to enjoy his day in the Lisbon sun.

It was a fabulous victory even without Goddard’s unusual backstory. A final six-under par round of 66 – on the back of three earlier scores of 71, 65 and 67 – was enough to earn him the title by one shot on an aggregate of 19-under at the Montado Golf Resort, on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital.

Four birdies in his final five holes showed real guts as well as skill as he finished ahead of Spain’s Eduard Rousaud and home hope Pedro Lencart Silva.

It sees him become the fifth winner of the Portuguese title over the last 30 years, and the first since Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell, in 2011.

Yet back in November, the England squad player couldn’t have contemplated winning when he was struck down by what he initially thought was a severe bout of influenza.

As he struggled with what he thought was simply a nasty virus, recovery was slow and eventually he opted to get checked out in hospital. It was a smart move, as it actually turned out to be pericarditis – an inflammation of the tissue around his heart.

Doctors immediately admitted him, kept him in for almost two weeks and, on being discharged, informed him to rest up. Winter training plans disappeared in an instant.

A month-long trip to Australia in January to play in four key amateur events with his England team-mates had to be shelved on doctor’s orders.

Watching Charlotte Heath and Ben Schmidt win trophies down under was bitter-sweet for a player thrilled for his colleagues – but frustrated at missing out on the chance to compete.

The 20-year-old didn’t pick up a club for two months. He had only just got back into he swing when he was given permission to jump on a plane to Portugal on the express condition that “he took it easy.”

That’s why his win was so significant for Goddard, his family and friends. And it was also proof that Portugal will always be a special place for Harry – his first big win came in the 2016 Daily Telegraph Junior Championship finals at Quinta do Lago, on the Algarve coast.

Goddard admits: ‘It’s been a tough few months but this win is special’

Goddard joins Zane Scotland, Eddie Pepperell and Gordon Brand Jnr as winners of the Portuguese Internatinal Amateur Championship

Goddard, who was first capped by England at U16 level back in 2015, admitted: “It’s been a tough few months, but to come out the other end with this win is special.

“I was scheduled to go to Australia, but that had to be cancelled. I was gutted as I was so looking forward to it, but I was under instructions from the doctor.

“In November, I had what I thought was a bad case of ‘flu but after a week I developed pains in my chest, neck and shoulder.

“At that point I thought I should say to my mum and I was taken to A&E. When they checked me out they told me they would need to find a bed as I’d be staying in for a while. In total, I was in for 12 days.”

Medics diagnosed that two of the four layers of tissue around Goddard’s heart had become inflamed – an ailment likely brought on by a viral infection and one which affects around one in 3,500 of the population.

A course of treatment was prescribed and, slowly, Goddard recovered. Golf, though, was off limits.

“I virtually did nothing for the whole of November and December, “added Goddard. “It was so tough watching the guys go to Australia knowing I had to stay behind.”

Yet all that irritation was wiped away in Portugal – and it was extra special to have mum Sarah watching on when he rolled home a 10-foot putt for a birdie two on the 72nd hole to clinch the win.

Parents helped keep spirits high in recovery

Both Sarah and dad Terry had worked to keep their son’s spirits high through the recovery from illness.

“I wouldn’t trade mum for the world – she’s been brilliant and it was great she could be in Portugal and we could hug each other after I’d won,” confessed Harry Goddard.

“I didn’t know at the time that my birdie putt on 18 was for a win. I thought I would have to hole it to get into a play-off. But as it turned out my nearest two rivals could only manage a par and a bogey at the last and my score was good enough to win.

“I’m thrilled to get over the line. I had a chance to win the Lytham Trophy last year, but came up just short and it feels as if a win has been a long time coming. I’ve been knocking on the door for a while.”

Storm Dennis delayed the family’s return home from the sunshine of the Iberian peninsula. However, not even the torrential rains that battered England could put a dampener on the Goddard family celebrations.

•For final scores in the 90th Portuguese Amateur International click here.

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Last year’s winner David Shacklady (centre) with Corrine and Duncan Sinclair, founders of The Sinclair Invitational at Hanbury Manor. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE Sinclair Invitational will return to Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club in September – with Caring Matters Now (CMN) announced as the tournament’s Official Charity Partner.

Lancashire’s David Shacklady won his second Staysure Tour title at the Hertfordshire venue in 2019.

The 2019 event heralded a new era for The Sinclair Invitational, with the revamped tournament named after its founders Duncan and Corrine Sinclair.

Meanwhile the prize fund increased to £400,000 to place it among the most lucrative events on the Staysure Tour International Schedule.

The tournament will return to Hanbury Manor, from September 4-6, with CMN set to benefit as the tournament’s designated charity partner.

Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN) is a condition characterised by large, brown, noncancerous patches on the skin, which if growing internally, can be fatal.

The condition also increases sufferers’ chances of developing an aggressive form of skin cancer, called melanoma, as well as impacting an individual’s emotional wellbeing.

In addition to being the only UK charity dedicated to supporting those affected by Congenital Melanocytic Naevus – a genetic skin condition present in one per cent of infants – the charity also funds pioneering research to find a cure and raise national and international awareness of the condition.

Mark Aspland, head of the Staysure Tour, said: “We are delighted to welcome Caring Matters Now as the official charity for the 2020 edition of The Sinclair Invitational.

“The work they do across the United Kingdom is tremendous, and we hope that The Sinclair Invitational and our players can help to spread awareness of the condition.

“The Sinclair Invitational was a big hit with our players last year and we look forward to returning to Hanbury Manor in 2020.”

Jodi Whitehouse, founder and chief executive of Caring Matters Now, said: “On behalf of the Caring Matters Now board of trustees, I would like to thank the organisers and sponsors of The Sinclair Invitational for choosing Caring Matters Now as the official charity for the 2020 event.

“Through this prestigious event, the Caring Matters Now board of trustees are thrilled to be able to raise awareness of Congenital Melanocytic Naevus and the work of Caring Matters Now.’’

Stan Power, director of Golf & Estates at Hanbury Manor Marriott Golf & Country Club, said: “Hanbury Manor are delighted to be continuing our relationship with The Sinclair Invitational.

“Each year the tournament has grown and is now a major event not only on Hanbury’s calendar but also in the local area.

“We are really looking forward to working with Caring Matters Now who are set to add a new dynamic to an already great event.”

Shacklady carded a bogey-free final round of 66 to overhaul a four-stroke overnight deficit in front of his wife and children who were watching on.

Hanbury Manor’s back nine features the holes originally designed in the early 20th Century by the legendary Harry Vardon, six-time winner of the Open Championship.

Hanbury Manor’s heritage from Vardon and Nicklaus II to Westwood and Clarke

HANBURY Manor’s first nine holes were designed by legendary six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon in the early 1900s.

The Jacobean style Grade II listed manor house dates back to the 16th Century with the original part of the current hotel built in the 1890s before becoming a convent school in the 1920s until its closure in the 1980s.

When a plan to convert Poles Hall into a five-star hotel and conference centre was conceived, Jack Nicklaus II – the son of the 18-time Major winner nicknamed the Golden Bear – was signed up to add a new front nine, which opened in 1991 to complete an 18-hole championship layout.

The classic Vardon parkland holes have survived while the Nicklaus II half offers a contrasting, more modern links-style introduction to Hanbury Manor.

Marriot acquired the hotel several years later and in 1999 added 65 bedrooms to the exisiting 53 built in the first extension to the old manor house.

Hanbury Manor hosted its first European Tour event with the 1997 Alamo English Open won by Per Ulrk Johansson.

It was also staged at the Ware club in 1998 and 1999 when Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, respectively, were crowned champions.

In 2016, the Willow Senior Golf Classic was staged at Hanbury Manor for the first time, raising money for the Willow Foundation – the charity founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson, who lost his daughter Anna to cancer at the age of 31.

After Surrey’s Gary Marks recorded his maiden European Tour Seniors win, Berkshire’s Barry Lane took the title in 2017.

Australian Peter Fowler was the last winner of the Willow event before it became The Sinclair Invitational 12 months ago.

The On Course Foundation, which helps the recovery of injured and sick service personnel and veterans through nationwide golf events and arranging employment in the golf industry, was the chosen charity last year.

•Specific tournament dates for the rest of the Staysure Tour international schedule for 2020 will be announced in the coming weeks, the European Tour said this week.

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Ormskirk’s David Shacklady winner of the Sinclair Invitational, at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DAVID Shacklady won his second Staysure Tour title as a six-under par final round 66 sealed the outcome of The Sinclair Invitational, at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club.

The Lancastrian carded a bogey-free final round to reach 11-under and win on home soil by one shot ahead of Austria’s Markus Brier and two shots ahead of close friend Paul Streeter, who finished third on nine-under.

It could have been very different for Shacklady as he saw a short birdie putt slide by on the 72nd hole to miss out on taking what would have been – at the time – the outright lead.

But a triple bogey eight on the penultimate hole for co-leader Phillip Price meant the Welshman dropped back into the pack and victory was confirmed for the 2018 VTB Russian Open Golf Championship (Senior) winner.

“I can’t tell you what it means,” 52-year-old Shacklady said. “To win one title was amazing and I know it’s a cliché, but people say you validate it by winning another – and this season has gradually improved for me.

“I felt exactly the same as I did the first time. I felt as calm as I did in Russia and I genuinely became focused on just trying to win and post the lowest number. It’s nice to be able to repeat it.

“I played very well. I have been playing well prior to getting here this week, but you never know if you’re going to continue it.

“I knew I had a good chance on the back nine but then to be honest, the little one at the last for birdie, I thought that was going to mean I was in a play-off or maybe lose by one.

“I knew I was hitting it well and I knew I was going to give myself chances but I got on a nice run, in a nice frame of mind and I kept doing what my coach has been telling me and it worked out beautifully.”

The 52-year-old was joined at Ware’s Hanbury Manor, in Hertfordshire, by his wife and three children.

Shacklady was overjoyed to provide them with the perfect conclusion to the week, having been disappointed to bogey the final hole to miss the cut by a single shot the last time his family attended a tournament at The Senior Open, at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

“My family were there at Lytham when I bogeyed the last to miss the cut and they were all devasted I wasn’t there at the weekend, as I was,” the Ormskirk-based pro said.

“You just have to pick yourself up and go again. There are far more lows in golf than highs – there always have been and there always will be.

“I’m back out again next year and that’s all I want. I want to play, and play, and play and I wouldn’t trade this – being out here on this Tour – for anything in the world. It’s incredible.”

The 2018 Qualifying School graduate was typically humble in victory and offered some kind words to Price, whose triple bogey on the 71st hole was only the second time he dropped shots all week.

“We were stood at the last when Phil was coming in and he was signing autographs as he was coming off,” he said. “That says everything you need to know about Phil Price.

“He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and a class act with it. It is horrible that it’s gone that way but he will be the first one to come and shake my hand and say ‘well done’.

“He’s a gentleman and a good friend as well,” added Shacklady who qualified to play in the 2007 Open at Carnoustie and played seven times on the European Tour between 1999 and 2008.

Despite that triple bogey costing him a shot at victory, Price finished in fourth place on eight-under, which means he leapfrogs Paul Broadhurst and Bernhard Langer to take top spot on the Order of Merit

Shacklady’s victory sees him climb seven places into fifth position.

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Sweden’s first Ryder Cup player Joakim Haeggman could not wait to start his Staysure Seniors Tour career at Hanbury Manor after turning 50 this week. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JOAKIM Haeggman has wasted no time in embarking on his Staysure Tour career and makes his over-50s debut at The Sinclair Invitational at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, just two days after turning 50.

The Swede has not played in a European Tour event since the 2014 Nordea Masters, but has returned to professional golf at the earliest possible opportunity since becoming eligible to tee it up on the Staysure Tour.

Haeggman, who became the first Swede to compete in the Ryder Cup when he formed part of Bernard Gallacher’s team at The Belfry Resort in 1993, admits he has been counting down the days to this moment.

And he feels that despite a long break from competitive golf, his game is in good shape as he headed to the Hertfordshire course designed by Jack Nicklaus II, who added nine holes to the existing nine-hole Harry Vardon parkland north of Ware on the A10, in 1990.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for quite a long time now,” Haeggman said. “I suppose most guys who are golfers want to do this when they turn 50, so for me, it was an easy choice to come here.

“The game’s not bad. We’ll find out because I think the shots are there and the game is pretty close to what it used to be, which is good for me.

“But the short game needs to be there, the putting needs to be there and the scoring shots need to be there.

“To have the scorecard in the back pocket is going to be a bit different from running around at your home club.”

After turning professional in 1989, Haeggman won three times on the European Tour and twice on the Challenge Tour before leaving the world of professional golf behind in 2014.

After hanging up the clubs for the first time he moved to a different sector within the game.

“I have actually been a sales representative for John Deere where I was responsible for a third of Sweden,” he said.

“I’ve been doing that, selling golf machinery, and also done a bit of travelling and that’s it really. But when it came down to it, I thought ‘I’d like to go and play again’.

“It really started for me back in November of last year. I left my daily job and I got back into the gym and took a few months trying to get myself back into shape, well, some kind of shape anyway.

“I’m sure we’ve all got our own aches and pains out here and I’m just trying to limit mine and get on with it. It’s obviously one of the reasons why I halted and stopped playing on the European Tour.”

As Haegmann took time to hone his touch on the practice green at Hanbury Manor early on Thursday morning, the Swede was interrupted by a number of friendly faces who he had not seen for many years.

“It’s great to see everyone again,” he said. “I had dinner with Mark James last night and it’s nice to sit down and see everybody and have a chat again.

“I think the Staysure Tour will offer me a lot of enjoyment, a chance to play golf and hopefully I’ll be able to make a living out of doing this.

“I’ve said to myself I’ll play this year and then at least a couple more years, so we’ll see where I get to.”

The Sinclair Invitational – renamed this year after founders Corrine and Duncan Sinclair, having been the Willow Senior Classic co-founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson since 2016 – offers a £400,000 prize fund.

That places it in the top tier of tournaments on the Staysure Tour with 4,500 Order of Merit points on offer.

The action at Hanbury Manor will begin at 9.30am on Friday, with Haeggman playing alongside America’s Bob May at 10am.

For live scoring click here.

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