Matthew Southgate and father

 win 2016 European Father and Son Championship after Spain play-off

Cadiz, Andalucia: European Tour professional Matthew Southgate and his dad, Ian, won the 2016 European Father and Son golf championship (www.fatherandsongolf.co.uk) in dramatic style in Spain after a three-way play-off was required to determine the winners in the Scratch category.

Matthew, currently lying 48th in the European Tour Race to Dubai rankings, and five-handicapper Ian from England completed the 54 holes of competition in 13 under par after a storming 6 under par on the final day to catch the overnight leaders amateurs Gareth Bradley and his son Charles from Cheshire,  who let a four-shot lead slip, to go into a three-way tie including defending champions British teaching professional Gary Milliner and his German-born son, Justin.

After halving the first play-off hole, it was back down the 18^th hole again for the three groups where Matthew eventually secured the victory by holing a 15 foot from off the fringe for par in front of a cheering crowd and Sky Sports cameras.

“I cannot believe that me and my dad are European Champions! What a dad! What a legend! What a day! This is such a special event and it means the world to me,” declared an emotional and tearful Matthew, who came fourth in the Irish Open on the European Tour in May and 12^th in The Open Championship at Royal Troon in July.

This win comes just over a year after the 28-year-old overcame testicular cancer which put him out of the game for several months.

Matthew Southgate (right) and his father, Ian, winners of the Sky Sports European Father & Son Golf Championships in the Scratch Category

 

An emotional Matthew Southgate hugs his dad, Ian, after winning the Sky Sports European Father and Son Golf Championships

 

Meanwhile the Handicap category of the Championships was won by defending champions, the Milliners, in 13 under par, scoring 121 points in the two-ball, better-ball Stableford competition which, like the Scratch competition, was played over the championship courses at the Costa Ballena Ocean Golf Club and the Sherry Golf Jerez over three days (October 26 – 28).

Forty seven teams gathered in this picturesque corner of Cadiz, considered one of Spain’s top golfing destinations, to play golf and have some fun with the family. Golfers from America, Australia, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland and the UK contested the ninth staging of this popular event whilst family and friends also came along for the ride and to cheer on their team.

Several youngsters (a couple under five foot!) played in the event but it was Emily Jolly, a 22 handicapper from Germany, who made the history books when she became the first ever daughter to take part in the Championships. Just 13 years old, Emily played alongside her grandfather, Peter, whilst Emily’s father Andy, a British teaching pro in Germany, teamed up with his son, Miles.

The full leaderboard for the Championships can be found here:

http://www.fatherandsongolf.co.uk/member/leaderboard

 
To sign up for next year’s event, go to www.fatherandsongolf.co.uk  or phone + 44 (0)1702 680180, or email Jackie@fatherandsongolf.co.uk