Lewis beats Lloyd in Carris Trophy play-off

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Tom Lewis battled through a five-hole playoff at Moor Park against his England boys team-mate Chris Lloyd to be crowned English Under-18 Champion as winner of the Carris Trophy at Moor Park, Hertfordshire.
In almost continuous rain, a par 4 at the 17th, the fifth play-off hole after the previous four had been halved in par figures. It was the second successive year that a five-hole playoff was required and it was a relieved Lewis, who virtually had to win the title twice over after holding a secure lead with a few holes to play, who collected the trophy.
“I hit a few bad shots at the wrong time at the end of my round but I wasn’t feeling nervous,” said Lewis. “We both had chances to win in the playoff but Chris made a mistake which proved decisive. This win means a lot because I targeted it all year. This is one of the biggest championships and to win it in my last year as a junior is superb. I’m pleased I came through and I felt I have won it twice today.”
For Lloyd it was a repeat of two years ago when he finished runner-up to Matt Haines at Saunton. “I’m disappointed to finish second again but I’m happy to have made the playoff after playing badly this week,” he said.
"It proves I can compete at this level but I have scrambled this week. After I birdied three in a row from the eighth I felt I had a chance but when I had back-to-back double bogeys I felt out of it again until Tom started dropping shots.”
Lewis had the title wrapped up when he held a four stroke lead with four to play. But those shots disappeared with a double bogey-par-bogey-bogey finish which added up to a 73. Lloyd meanwhile had posted a 71 to set the target at 282, ten under par, but must have thought his chance had gone until Lewis’ ragged finish brought him back into the action.
The pair halved the first four play-off holes over the first, 17th, 18th and first hole again in par figures but the end came at the second visit to the par four 17th when Lloyd hit his approach too long.
Faced with a 45 foot putt, he charged the first attempt ten feet past and missed the return after Lewis had secured another par four, which proved enough. Adam Carson, who shot 68 and 72 on the final day, finished a shot out of the playoff in third place on 283, but Scott Campbell, who led by two going into the final round, crashed to a 78 for joint fourth on 285.
The Hazards Salver for the best score by an under 16 player from Great Britain and Ireland was won by Nathan Kimsey from Woodhall Spa with 296, four over par, while Max Smith collected the Malcolm Reid Salver for the best aggregate from the McEvoy and Carris Trophies with 531 (243 and 288) by a shot from Lewis.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
282 Chris Lloyd (The Kendleshire) 69 72 70 71, Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 68 70 71 73 Lewis won play-off at fifth extra hole).
283 Adam Carson (Long Ashton) 72 71 68 72.
285 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 71 71 73 70, Scott Campbell (Hallowes) 69 69 69 78.