NEWS FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER AT NORTH HANTS GOLF CLUB

Hampshire Hog victory for Edwards

SAM EDWARDS WITH THE DISTINCTIVE HAMPSHIRE HOG GROPHY.

                           Picture by courtesy of Mark Sandom

SAM EDWARDS WINS HAMPSHIRE HOG, 

CUT TO 18 HOLES DUE TO HEAVY RAIN

Devon’s Sam Edwards added his name to the list of illustrious winners of the Hampshire Hog at North Hants Golf Club after the event was cut to 18 holes due to heavy rain.

Edwards, 21, shot a three under par 67 in the morning before the weather intervened and the afternoon round was abandoned for only the third time in the competition’s 57-year history.

Last year’s Hog champion, Walker Cup player Jordan Smith from Bowood G&CC, captured the Hampshire Salver with a combined score from Saturday’s Selborne Salver at Blackmoor and Sunday’s Hampshire Hog of level par 208 with rounds of 68, 68 and 70.

Edwards’ victory was the biggest success of the Bigbury golfer’s career and places him alongside past winners that include the reigning US Open Champion Justin Rose, former Masters and Open Champion Sandy Lyle and numerous Walker and Ryder Cup players who have lifted the coveted amateur trophy.

“It’s an honour to have my name on that board and I’ll certainly try and follow in their footsteps,” said Edwards.

Starting at the tenth, Edwards reached the turn in level par, dropping an early shot on the 12^th before birdieing the 17^th. But he picked up a further four birdies on his last nine, holing numerous putts from 15 feet, although it was his par save on the third after he found water with his second that stood out as the highlight of his round.

“Hopefully I can push on from here for the rest of the summer and get another win over the summer,” he added.

Smith, who made his Walker Cup debut last September, went one better than last year when he was denied the Hampshire Salver title by a shot.

“It’s been quite a year since winning last year’s Hampshire Hog, the highlight being the Walker Cup,” said Smith. “Although the results didn’t go our way in America, it was an amazing experience. I learnt a lot from that, and will try and build on that on the amateur circuit this year before another go at the Qualifying School.”

 

The Hampshire Hog was first played in 1957 and past winners have included two Major Champions, four Ryder Cup players and 19 Walker Cup players.

Hampshire Hog Results – North Hants GC

Leading final scores:

Par 70. Play reduced to 18 holes due to heavy rain

67 S Edwards (Bigbury)

68 J Bower (Meltham)

69 D Brown (Bedale)

70 P Howard (Southport and Ainsdale), O Granstrom-Livesey (Royal Mid-Surrey), S Gregory (Corhampton)

71 P Sagoo (Ealing), A Chapman (Windermere)

Hampshire Salver Results

Best Combined Score from Selborne Salver at Blackmoor (Par 69) and Hampshire Hog at North Hants (Par 70).

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

208 J Smith (Bowood G and CC) 68, 68, 72

209 P Howard (Southport &Ainsdale) 69, 70, 70

210 S Richardson (Spalding) 68, 70, 72, A Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 69, 68, 73

211 J Kemp (Woburn) 68, 71, 72

212 R Evans (Wellingborough) 68, 69, 75

214 J Bower (Meltham) 72, 74, 68, O Granstrom-Livesey (Royal Mid-Surrey) 73, 71, 70, K Holmes (Hunstanton) 69, 70, 75