Ben Smith is English junior county champion
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Birdies at the closing two holes steered Ben Smith from Hertfordshire to victory in the English Junior County Champions Tournament over the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa.
The sparking finale saw Smith sign for a six-under-par 67, eight shots better than his morning effort, for an aggregate of 142, four under par, and a one stroke winning margin from Durham’s James Simpson.
Smith, 17, from the Sandy Lodge club, said: “This is a big fillip to win a national title. I came here quite confident although I’ve not been playing my best recently.”
That was reflected in his opening 75 which left Smith four strokes behind Simpson and Shropshire and Herefordshire’s Will Jones going into the afternoon circuit. He was still adrift after reaching the turn in 36 as Simpson led the way. But a back nine of 31 including six birdies, hoisted the Hertfordshire teenager to the top.
“I knew the situation on the course,” added Smith. “Someone said that three under was the target and with two to play I knew I needed two birdies and that’s what I managed.”
Simpson, 17, from Whickham near Newcastle, the North of England Schools Champion, set the pace by going out in 33 to get to five under. But three bogeys in a back nine of 39 for 72, only lifted by a birdie-four at the 18th, saw him post the target at three under. He then endured a lengthy wait to see if anyone could match it which Smith managed with those late birdies.
“I played steadily and didn’t make many mistakes,” said Simpson. “I know this course well as I played in the Carris Trophy here earlier in the summer and was confident of doing well.”
However, his 72 added to an opening 71 meant he was the only player to post sub-par totals in both rounds but it wasn’t quite good enough.
Four strokes behind Smith on 146 were Tom Harris from the Isle of Man and Jones but third place went to Harris on countback with his 73 against Jones’s 75.
Smith’s victory further boosts Hertfordshire’s season which has seen their golfers lift the Carris Trophy through Callum Shinkwin and the Boys County Championship in which Smith played his part.
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Birdies at the closing two holes steered Ben Smith from Hertfordshire to victory in the English Junior County Champions Tournament over the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa.
The sparking finale saw Smith sign for a six-under-par 67, eight shots better than his morning effort, for an aggregate of 142, four under par, and a one stroke winning margin from Durham’s James Simpson.
Smith, 17, from the Sandy Lodge club, said: “This is a big fillip to win a national title. I came here quite confident although I’ve not been playing my best recently.”
That was reflected in his opening 75 which left Smith four strokes behind Simpson and Shropshire and Herefordshire’s Will Jones going into the afternoon circuit. He was still adrift after reaching the turn in 36 as Simpson led the way. But a back nine of 31 including six birdies, hoisted the Hertfordshire teenager to the top.
“I knew the situation on the course,” added Smith. “Someone said that three under was the target and with two to play I knew I needed two birdies and that’s what I managed.”
Simpson, 17, from Whickham near Newcastle, the North of England Schools Champion, set the pace by going out in 33 to get to five under. But three bogeys in a back nine of 39 for 72, only lifted by a birdie-four at the 18th, saw him post the target at three under. He then endured a lengthy wait to see if anyone could match it which Smith managed with those late birdies.
“I played steadily and didn’t make many mistakes,” said Simpson. “I know this course well as I played in the Carris Trophy here earlier in the summer and was confident of doing well.”
However, his 72 added to an opening 71 meant he was the only player to post sub-par totals in both rounds but it wasn’t quite good enough.
Four strokes behind Smith on 146 were Tom Harris from the Isle of Man and Jones but third place went to Harris on countback with his 73 against Jones’s 75.
Smith’s victory further boosts Hertfordshire’s season which has seen their golfers lift the Carris Trophy through Callum Shinkwin and the Boys County Championship in which Smith played his part.
Labels: Boys
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, September 20, 2010
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