BRABAZON TROPHY REPORT

Frenchman David Antonelli shoots course
record 64 to open up two-stroke lead

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The early bird certainly caught the worm as Frenchman David Antonelli stole a march on the field in the first round of the Brabazon Trophy, supported by Approved Golf Properties, at a damp Trevose in Cornwall.
Antonelli, 22, from St Etienne was off first at 6.30am and shot a course record-equalling 64 with two eagles and four birdies to open a two-stroke lead.
His closest challengers are compatriot Benjamin Hebert, Darren Walton from Woburn, Wiltshire’s Miles Mackman and Steve Uzzell from Yorkshire, who all went round in six under par 66.
Antonelli was out of his bed at 5am and had time for a 10min jog to loosen up before covering the front nine in 29 strokes.
“I always have a run before playing,” he said. “But I drove and putted well and only missed a couple of fairways. Out first, we had superb conditions while the greens were perfect.”
Antonelli, who didn’t play well enough at home to earn a place in the French team for last week’s international, had eagle 3s at the fourth and ninth along with birdies at the fifth, sixth, seventh and 13th.
Hebert, the European amateur champion, who did play against England at Frilford Heath, had an eagle and six birdies in his 66 but he wasn’t as surprised as Walton with his score. “I got a bit lucky,” said Walton with a wry smile. “That’s my lowest ever round but I putted really well and that was the key. I only had 24 putts.
“I shot 69 yesterday to qualify so this 66 should mean my handicap will come down so that I can get into other national events. But I’ve put in a lot of time and effort with my game and it’s nice that it pays off. But there is a long way to go.”
It was a great reward for the 24 year old from Newport Pagnall who failed to qualify last year while it was even better news for Mackman, who was delighted with his 66 after missing out for the past two years.
“This was my best Brabazon round because it was my first in the competition proper as I’d missed by a shot over the past two years,” said the 22 year old from Swindon. “But I putted well, holing a lot of 12 foot putts but I didn’t do so well on the back nine.”
Mackman was out in 31 but dropped shots at the 12th after finding sand, and the 16th following a poor tee shot. Uzzell’s performance was especially pleasing. Last weekend he was forced to pull out of the England vs. France international with a back injury and he had doubts over taking part in the Brabazon. But he recovered well and had seven birdies in his 66.
“I didn’t hit the ball as hard as I normally do just to be on the safe side,” he said. “But I started with a birdie and finished with one so it went well.”
Among those on 67 are new England cap Neil Chaudhuri, who birdied three of the last six holes, and under 16 international Tom Lewis. A spate of low scores reflected the calm conditions with a flurry of sub-70 returns until the weather began to close in and the scores mounted.
The weather, which had been benign during the morning, deteriorated after lunch and heavy rain forced a 45min suspension of play at 3pm when several greens began flooding. However, conditions improved along with the scoring but the time lost meant the round wasn’t completed before dark.
When play was called off for the (Friday) night, four groups containing 11 players still had to complete their first rounds and resumed play at 7am this morning.