BRITISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
IT'S ENGLAND v SWEDEN IN FINAL AT BALGOWNIE
From COLIN FARQUHARSON
England’s Matthew Nixon from Ashton under Lyne, near Manchester will play another 17-year-old, Bjorn Akesson from Malmo, Sweden in Saturday's 36-hole final of the British boys’ amateur golf championship.
Akesson, who has a +4 handicap and was runner-up in the individual section of the world boys’ team championship in Japan, earlier this season, will start favourite to become the first Swede in 14 years to win the prestigious title.
He plays regularly on Sweden’s domestic professional circuit and is ranked Sweden’s leading Under-18 player.
In contrast, Nixon was not even a member of the England team in last week’s boys’ home internationals won by Scotland at Lossiemouth.
“I didn’t come to Aberdeen with any great expectations because I was playing well last year at the time of the British boys – and lost in the first round to the German No. 1,” said Matthew.
Nixon staged a smash-and-grab act to win his semi-final against Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) by two holes.
Johnston was one up after 14. Then Nixon went eagle-birdie-birdie to swoop into the lead. He pitched in from 50yards with a sand wedge for a 2 at the 370yd 15th to win that hole … the 16th was halved in 3s … and then, at the 187yd, par-3 17th, Mathew hit the green with a six-iron and sank a 20ft birdie putt.
Johnston three-putted the last to lose a tie that was completed in only 3hr 5min.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) was beaten 6 and 5 in the morning quarter-finals by Sam Stuart from Chorley, Lancashire. Sam won the first six holes – four of them with birdies – against the hapless Stewart who continued to play well, but not quit well enough to beat Bjorn Akesson.
The Swedish player won by 2 and 1 with two-under-par figures.
“I have been under par in every round except for the first one when it was very windy,” said the confident Akesson.
Friday results
BRITISH BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
QUARTER-FINALS
M Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) bt B Fowles (Wentworth) 3 and 1.
A Johnston (North Middlesex) bt M Junker (Germany) 3 and 1.
B Akesson (Sweden) bt T Fourest (France) 2 and 1.
S Stuart (Chorley) bt M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 6 and 5.
SEMI-FINALS
Nixon bt Johnston 2 holes.
Akesson bt Stuart 2 and 1.
+Saturday's 36-hole final at Balgownie tees off at 9am and 1.30pm. Come along if you can manage it!
From COLIN FARQUHARSON
England’s Matthew Nixon from Ashton under Lyne, near Manchester will play another 17-year-old, Bjorn Akesson from Malmo, Sweden in Saturday's 36-hole final of the British boys’ amateur golf championship.
Akesson, who has a +4 handicap and was runner-up in the individual section of the world boys’ team championship in Japan, earlier this season, will start favourite to become the first Swede in 14 years to win the prestigious title.
He plays regularly on Sweden’s domestic professional circuit and is ranked Sweden’s leading Under-18 player.
In contrast, Nixon was not even a member of the England team in last week’s boys’ home internationals won by Scotland at Lossiemouth.
“I didn’t come to Aberdeen with any great expectations because I was playing well last year at the time of the British boys – and lost in the first round to the German No. 1,” said Matthew.
Nixon staged a smash-and-grab act to win his semi-final against Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) by two holes.
Johnston was one up after 14. Then Nixon went eagle-birdie-birdie to swoop into the lead. He pitched in from 50yards with a sand wedge for a 2 at the 370yd 15th to win that hole … the 16th was halved in 3s … and then, at the 187yd, par-3 17th, Mathew hit the green with a six-iron and sank a 20ft birdie putt.
Johnston three-putted the last to lose a tie that was completed in only 3hr 5min.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) was beaten 6 and 5 in the morning quarter-finals by Sam Stuart from Chorley, Lancashire. Sam won the first six holes – four of them with birdies – against the hapless Stewart who continued to play well, but not quit well enough to beat Bjorn Akesson.
The Swedish player won by 2 and 1 with two-under-par figures.
“I have been under par in every round except for the first one when it was very windy,” said the confident Akesson.
Friday results
BRITISH BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
QUARTER-FINALS
M Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) bt B Fowles (Wentworth) 3 and 1.
A Johnston (North Middlesex) bt M Junker (Germany) 3 and 1.
B Akesson (Sweden) bt T Fourest (France) 2 and 1.
S Stuart (Chorley) bt M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 6 and 5.
SEMI-FINALS
Nixon bt Johnston 2 holes.
Akesson bt Stuart 2 and 1.
+Saturday's 36-hole final at Balgownie tees off at 9am and 1.30pm. Come along if you can manage it!
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, August 18, 2006
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