Darren Wright takes Brabazon Trophy lead on windy day
FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The wind blew nobody much good at Royal Liverpool in the third round of the Brabazon Trophy, supported by SkyCaddie, but Darren Wright wore the widest smile after what many would say was another difficult day over the links.
Wright, 21, from Hampshire, (picture © Tom Ward) went round in 72 for 213, three under par, one ahead of overnight leader Tyrrell Hatton, from Marlow, who shot 74, and Boston-based Simon Richardson with 69, one of only two sub-par rounds of the day.
But many of the tournament favourites suffered in the testing breeze that swung around during the day and presented the players with even more puzzles to solve.
But Wright, out in the final game with Hatton, was out in 34 and ahead and came home in 38 which was good enough to hit the front.
“After yesterday’s four under I was looking to do the same today but looking at the pins and the hardness of the greens I would have taken level par at the start,” said Wright. “I found a couple of bunkers on the back nine and like any links course you are almost certain to drop shots but I felt in control and I’m happy to be leading.
“I wanted to be ahead at this stage. I’ve got the experience to deal with it and although I’ve been in the last group in a few tournaments I’ve never been leading and won. But I’ll be comfortable and I’ll stick to my game plan and try to make the most of the par fives.”
Hatton, one clear going into the day, covered both nines in 37 to lose his advantage while Richardson took advantage to climb the leaderboard to third place. He put his 69 down mainly to his putting.
“I’ve holed so much this week and it was the same today,” he said. “This is a great course and the greens are fantastic. Top courses seem to bring the best out of me but my putting was phenomenal. I had 23 putts today, the same as I had on the first day.”
This is the first year that Richardson has played full time golf. The 24 year old has been in full time education but is enjoying a really steady season while working part-time in the pro shop at his club Boston West.
England international Billy Hemstock also shot level par for 217, one over, for joint fourth place with Frenchman Clement Berardo, who signed for 73.
The best return was a six-birdie 68 from Scotland’s Michael Stewart from Troon, a score that must have raised the eyebrows of many of his fellow competitors, to share seventh place with Chris Paisley with 74.
But there was a lot of pain felt by others. Tommy Fleetwood reached the turn in 37 but shed eight shots in a homeward 44 for 81 to slip down the field, suffering a bad day at the office. And it was a similar story for fellow England cap Jamie Abbott and St Andrews Links Trophy winner Matt Southgate.
Abbott, two off the lead at the start, went round in 80 for 222, while Southgate also suffered with 79 which included a back nine of 45. “And I did it with an eagle and two birdies. I just played horrible,” he admitted.
Play starts at 7.30am on the last day (Sunday) and admission is free. For those unable to attend, live scoring and news updates are available on the Championships Section of the EGU website,
http://www.englishgolfunion.org/.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
1st Darren Wright Rowlands Castle 73 68 72 213
2nd Tyrrell Hatton Harleyford 71 69 74 214
3rd Simon Richardson Boston West 73 73 69 215
4th Billy Hemstock Teignmouth 77 68 72 217
4th Clement Berardo France 77 67 73 217
6th Oliver Farr Ludlow 74 68 76 218
7th
Michael Stewart Troon Welbeck 78 73 68 219
7th Chris Paisley Stocksfield 74 71 74 219
9th Adrian Otaegui Spain 73 72 75 220
9th James Robinson Southport and Ainsdale 76 69 75 220
11th Matthew Nixon Ashton-under-Lyne 73 73 75 221
11th Josh Loughrey Wrag Barn 74 71 76 221
11th Matthew Southgate Thorpe Hall 72 70 79 221
11th Tim Gornik Slovenia 69 72 80 221
15th
James Ross Royal Burgess 76 73 73 222 +6
15th Sam Claridge Harpenden Common 75 74 73 222 +6
15th Dave Coupland Boston 75 71 76 222 +6
15th Jamie Abbott Fynn Valley 71 71 80 222 +6
19th Michael Saunders Dartford 75 76 72 223 +7
19th
Mark Hillson Craigielaw 79 71 73 223 +7
19th
Jack Senior Heysham Golf Club 75 74 74 223
19th Tom Lewis Welwyn Garden City 75 74 74 223
19th Pedro Figueredo Portugal 80 69 74 223
19th Darren Renwick Hill Barn 74 73 76 223
19th Ian A Winstanley Formby 77 69 77 223
19th Todd Adcock Nevill 75 70 78 223
19th Tommy Fleetwood Formby Hall 69 73 81 223
28th Jon White Saunton 79 71 74 224
28th Mitchell Newton Notts 76 73 75 224
28th Alastair Jones Radyr 70 78 76 224
28th Ross Kellet Colville Park 74 74 76 224
32nd Alex Christie Tyrrells Wood 81 70 74 225
32nd Tom Shadbolt Mid Herts 77 74 74 225
32nd Liam O'neill Keighley 74 77 74 225
32nd Stiggy Hodgson Sunningdale 77 72 76 225
36th Callum Tarren Dinsdale Spa 76 76 74 226
36th Ken Benz Switzerland 80 72 74 226
36th Ciaran Doherty Bury 73 76 77 226
36th Paul Howard Southport and Ainsdale 76 72 78 226
40th Max Williams Cuddington 76 76 75 227
40th Jamie Howie Royal St David's 77 75 75 227
40th Adam Keogh Boston 77 74 76 227
40th Andy Sullivan Nuneaton 74 75 78 227
40th Spencer Wells Thorpe Hall 77 71 79 227
40th
Greg Paterson St Andrews New 76 71 80 227
46th Jordan Smith Bowood 78 74 76 228
46th Alexander Levy France 77 73 78 228
46th Robin Kind Netherlands 75 74 79 228
46th Christopher John Nugent Fulford Heath 73 76 79 228
46th Nathan Kimsey Woodhall Spa 72 75 81 228
51st Scott Fallon Hendon 82 70 77 229
51st Eddie Pepperell Drayton Park 74 76 79 229 +13
51st Matthew Moseley Carmarthen 74 76 79 229 +13
54th Kris Nicol Fraserburgh 74 78 78 230 +14
54th
Steven McEwan Caprington 76 76 78 230 +14
54th Jordan Godwin Rochester and Cobham Park 81 69 80 230 +14
54th C M Cossins Bath 78 71 81 230 +14
54th Jonathan Rahm Spain 76 73 81 230 +14
59th James Burnett Sleaford Golf Club 79 73 79 231
60th Levi Johnson Canterbury Golf Club 78 74 80 232
60th Michael Hearn Chorley Golf Club 78 73 81 232
60th Matthew Fitzpatrick Hallamshire 79 71 82 232
63rd
Paul Shields Kirkhill 80 71 83 234 +18
63rd Callum Shinkwin Moor Park70 81 83 234
65th Jack Brooks Pleasington 78 72 86 236
66th James Maw Hallowes 73 74 90 237
67th Michael Bedford Prestbury 76 76 87 239
Labels: Amateur Men