Friday, May 30, 2008

Dale Whitnell wins Lagonda Trophy
by three shots from Luke Goddard

England International Dale Whitnell fired a course record-equalling 63 in ideal conditions, followed by a 71 in persistent rain to win the Lagonda Trophy at Gog Magog in Cambridge.
The 19 year old from Essex finished with an aggregate of 269, 11 under par, three strokes better than England boy cap Luke Goddard and four ahead of Lee Yearn.
High winds were the feature of the first day which ended with Northumberland’s Philip Waugh heading the field on six under par 134 with Whitnell, Yearn and Jason Palmer a shot further back.
However, Whitnell built the foundation of his first significant victory since last year’s North of England Youths Championship with his morning 63 on day two. It might have been even better if the Five Lakes’ teenager hadn’t bogeyed the short fourth after taking two in a bunker while he missed a three-foot putt on the last for a 62.
Nevertheless, Whitnell went into the final circuit on 198, 12 under par, four strokes clear of Yearn, who shot a third round 67, and five clear of Suffolk’s Jamie Abbott, who carded 66. After lunch, the dry weather gave way to continual rain, making it a miserable afternoon for the 43 players and Whitnell saw his lead cut on the opening hole when he pulled his drive into trees and took bogey.
However, he was still one over for his round at the turn but the left-handed Yearn made up ground by closing the gap to two strokes. Having holed virtually everything in the morning, Whitnell’s putter was proving temperamental and he spurned birdie chances on the ninth, tenth and 11th holes.
He followed that with back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th which left him only a shot ahead of Yearn, who was also failing to take his opportunities. The turning point came at the long 14th where Whitnell fired a three-wood approach to 25 feet only to miss his eagle but the birdie alongside Yearn’s par, after he drove into clinging rough, eased the pressure.
This left Whitnell two ahead of Goddard, who was back in the clubhouse on eight under after his closing 65, a target which might have proved crucial. But Whitnell was not to be denied and a birdie-three at the 16th where Yearn bogeyed meant a two-shot swing.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
269 D Whitnell (Five Lakes) 67 68 63 71.
272 L Goddard (Hendon) 68 72 67 65.
273 L Yearn (Ely City) 68 67 67 71.
274 C Cossins (Bath) 68 71 65 70.
274 J Palmer (Kirby Muxloe) 66 69 69 70.
275 P Waugh (Hexham) 68 68 74 67

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