ENGLISHMAN MAKES HISTORY WITH VICTORY AT THE DUKE'S

Deja vu for Ashley Chesters, pictured with the European amateur championship trophy for the second year in a row. Nice picture by courtesy of Kenny Smith.

CHESTERS SCORES REPEAT WIN IN

EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SGU

Shropshire's Ashley Chesters today became the first player to claim back-to-back International European Amateur Championship titles – and with it the chance of a return trip to The Open Championship.

The 24-year-old Hawkstone Park Golf Club member, who was the first English player to win the European title since 2004 when he triumphed at El Prat in Spain 12 months ago, held his nerve to retain the crown, this time over the breezy Duke’s Course near  St Andrews.

Having triumphed in the All Square Golf-sponsored event, Chesters now has the opportunity to return to the ‘Home of Golf’ and line up among the game’s greats once more at next year’s Open over The Old Course. 
Chesters has already tasted the experience of the world’s oldest Major Championship, having played at Royal Liverpool last month.

Chesters, though, has a decision to make as he has been thinking of a move into the professional ranks and intended to go to Qualifying School next month. 
“I’m going to have to have a think,” said Chesters. “The Open at St Andrews would be hard to turn down, and it’s one of my favourite courses. I enjoyed Hoylake so much, as The Open is special. I’ve had worse problems (to think about).”

First played for in 1986 and won in the past by such stellar names as current Open champion Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Stephen Gallacher and Victor Dubuisson, Chesters has now gone one better in winning the European Amateur for a second time.

Among the 18 groups who returned early on Saturday morning to complete their third rounds after yesterday’s weather delay due to torrential rain, thunder and lightning, Chesters finished his remaining 12 holes and posted a fine two-under-par 69 to hit the front on three under par after 54 holes in Fife, securing a three-stroke lead.

On a pleasant final afternoon – despite gusts of wind that reached 30 mph at times – Chesters produced a steady closing round, holding off the challenge of German Max Roehrig, Gary Hurley from Ireland and Italian Enrico Di Nitto.

Chesters “hardly hit a bad shot” over the opening 16 holes of his final round, securing a five-shot lead with two holes to play, thanks to birdies at the 15th and 16th. 
However, he four-putted the par-3 17^th for a double bogey, before making bogey on the last to see his winning margin cut to three. On a demanding final day, he played 30 holes in total.

Chesters posted a two-under-par winning total of 282, the only player to finish under par, three ahead of Roehrig and Hurley on one over par, with Di Nitto fourth on two over,

Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young finished as the leading home player on six over par in a share of 15^th spot.

England international Chesters, who represents Hawkstone Park Golf Club, added: “I played well all day, until those last two holes, but I knew I had some shots in hand, thankfully. There are a lot of good names on the trophy and to have won it twice is amazing.”

Ed Hodge PR and Media Executive Direct Line: 01334 466483 LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 284 (4x71) 282 Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 69 72 69 72  285 Max Roehrig (Germany) 70 72 72 71, Gary Hurley (West Waterford) 66 72 76 71 286 Enrico De Nitto (Italy) 74 70 69 73 287 Robin Sciot-Siegrist (France) 72 74 73 68, Ben Stow (Rushmore) 67 71 76 73 288 Renato Paratore (Italy) 69 69 77 73 SELECTED SCORES 289 David Boote (Walton Heath) 70 70 78 71 (T9) 290 Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 73 73 70 74, Harry Casey (Enfield) 73 72 74 71 (T15) 293 Chris Robb (Meldrum House0 75 73 70 75, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 68 71 78 76 (T29) 294 Connor Syme (Drumoig) 73 70 72 79, Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 75 74 75 (T34) 299 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 78 72 74 75 +scroll down to view the scores of the Scots who missed the cut after three rounds. TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS CLICK HERE