MATT HAINES SECURES SECOND MAJOR BOYS
TITLE WITH CARRIS TRIUMPH

Matt Haines from Kent claimed his second major junior title in three months when he won the English Boys Under 18 Stroke Play Championship for the Carris Trophy at a wet and windy Saunton in Devon yesterday.
A closing round of 74 for 288, four over par, left him two strokes ahead of Bristol’s Chris Lloyd, who also closed with 74, and four clear of Northumberland’s Garrick Porteous, who shot 77.
“This is the best win I’ve had,” said Haines, who broke through with the McEvoy Trophy in April.
“This makes up for the disappointment of losing in the final of the European Boys Team Championships in Denmark a couple of weeks ago.”
Haines began the final day two strokes adrift of Lloyd but a morning 74 in atrocious conditions of driving rain and gale force winds, left the 17 year old from Chatham two in front. Although the rain relented in the afternoon, the wind intensified and made scoring just as difficult. In fact, only 11 of the 45-strong field broke 300 and there were plenty of returns in the 80s.
But Haines, partnering Lloyd, kept his head and his lead as most of his rivals were spilling shots with regularity.
“I didn’t get too worried in the afternoon,” Haines added. “I just played my own game and towards the end I knew it was just between myself and Chris. The key was the par four 16th where I was five feet away in four and he was four feet away in three. If I had missed and he holed there would have only been a shot in it.
“But he missed and I holed and then I felt safe. Chris got a superb birdie at the last but I knew that I just had to play for a par to win. The day was really tough. I wanted it to blow but I didn’t want the rain. Shooting two 74s in those conditions was pretty steady and this year is turning out to be pretty good for me.”
Haines also won the Malcolm Reid salver for the best aggregate with the McEvoy Trophy while Lloyd had the consolation of collecting the Hazard Salver for the best score by a player under 16.
“I didn’t have a lot of luck on the greens as I had plenty of chances but the ball just stayed out,” said Lloyd. “But overall, I couldn’t have asked any more of myself. I’m pleased with my performance and I’ve still got three more years to challenge for this title.”
A double-bogey five at the short 17th cost Porteous a share of second place while Adam Wills, who led after the first round, shot 76 to share fourth place on 296 with new England boy captain Jack Hiluta, who returned 77.
“That was about as tough as you could get it, especially with the rain this morning,” said Hiluta. “I found that fatigue came into play in the afternoon but I’d rather have it like this be3cause it is a true test of golf.”
On a day when no one was likely to match or beat the par of 71, there were superb 72s from Max` Smith, Jonathan Bell, Oliver Glaze and James Martin from Spain.

Full final scores, news updates and pictures of the event can be found on the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org