Spaniard wins all-the-way British boys' final

Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn Golf Club) who was a gallant loser in the British boys' championship final today. Image reproduced by permission of Tom Ward who retains the copyright. Click on the image for an enlargement

BRAVE BID BY NAIRN'S FRASER FOTHERINGHAM
ENDS ON 36th GREEN AT ROYAL PORTHCAWL

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Spanish 16-year-old Emilio Cuartero got up and down from a greenside bunker at the last to win the Boys Amateur Championship by one hole after a gruelling 36-hole final against Fraser Fotheringham from Nairn at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales today.

Cuartero, who plays off scratch, was introduced to the game by his 15-handicap father at the age of nine and has won the Spanish under-16 title.

Speaking through an interpreter after his victory he said: "This was far better than my Spanish win. The feeling is unbelievable. When I came here this week I just wanted to get some experience and hoped to get into the second round."

Cuartero is very conscious that previous Spanish winners of this Under-18s championship include Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

He lives close to Barcelona and plays his golf at Costa Dorada. He has two years more at school and then hopes to go to college in Madrid.

Despite falling three holes behind in the early stages of the 36-hole final, the Spaniard won six holes out of seven from the sixth, but relinquished his lead at the half-way point and was one down at lunch.

Cuartero wiped out that deficit at the second hole of the afternoon round and went one ahead at the fifth, a lead he was never to lose. Fotheringham was unlucky to find his ball plugged in a greenside bunker at the 16th and could not prevent Cuartero from going two ahead, but he immediately got back to one down with a birdie at the long 17th.

At the final hole Fotheringham was first to play into the green and hit a good shot to 25 feet. The Spanish youngster, longer off the tee, punched the ball low into the wind, but was bunkered. He came out to eight feet and when the Scot's putt slipped past the hole, the Spanish teenager confidently holed out for the title.

Fotheringham, the third Scottish finalist in the championship since 2004, following in the footsteps of Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay (2004-2005), said: "This has been a great experience, way beyond my expectations."

His good form this week could well earn him a place in the Great Britain & Ireland team to play the Continent of Europe in two weeks time for the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

Peter McEvoy, twice Amateur champion, Walker Cup player and captain and former Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee, commented:

"The quality of the golf during the week has been very impressive. The ball striking has been superb, no different to the senior amateurs."

Snapshots from the 36-hole final:

After 14 holes: Cuartero two up.

After 18 holes: Fotheringham one up.

After 27 holes: Cuartero one up.

After 36 holes: Cuartero one up

MORNING PLAY REPORT FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:

The first 18 holes of the Boys Amateur Championship final at Royal Porthcawl was described by one spectator who braved the morning's heavy rain and wind as "a game of three halves" so much did fortunes fluctuate as Fraser Fotheringham of Nairn went in to lunch one up against Spaniard Emilio Cuartero.

The young Scot, possibly more accustomed to the wild weather, raced away to a three hole lead after only five holes, but suddenly Cuartero moved into top gear to win six of the next seven holes, four of them with birdies.

At the 14th he had two putts from the front edge of the large green to increase his lead to four up, but four-putted to lose the hole.

That proved to be a second turning point in the match as the Spaniard struggled in the poor conditions and Fotheringham won three in a row from the 15th with par figures. Cuartero had a chance to square the match on the 18th, but missed from 15 feet to remain one down.

Under the rules of the championship only fellow competitors are allowed to act as caddies and Cuartero had the advantage during the morning as Fotheringham pulled his own trolley. But local Welsh youngster Matthew Phythian, who was knocked out in the fourth round, agreed to carry for the Scot this afternoon.