Lamb’s 67 leads at the 

English men’s amateur

FROM ENGLAND GOLF
Northumberland’s 20-year-old Matty Lamb shot five-under 67 at Formby Golf Club, Lancashire, to lead the first round of qualifying at the English men’s amateur championship today.

He’s one ahead of Kent’s Jensen Hull - who gave himself an excellent 18th birthday present with his 68 - and Northamptonshire’s Callum Farr. 

After his round, young Hull, from Hever Castle, said he would celebrate his birthday this evening with dinner with his dad, but he added: “I won’t be drinking!” 

Instead, like leader Lamb, he’ll be planning for Wednesday’s second round at Hesketh Golf Club. 

Lamb, pictured, has been coming into form as this championship approached, and proved it when he went out in five-under 32.

 “I holed a good putt to birdie the first and that got me in a good frame of mind for the rest of the day. I gave myself good chances and holed a few putts,” 

He slowed down a bit on the back nine, but balanced a bogey with a birdie to come home in level par for a 67. 

Hull was also pleased with his day’s work. “It’s been a good day,” he said. “I was a little bit more consistent than I have been, hit the ball better, holed a few putts and stayed patient.” 

He had five birdies, including one of the 13th, where he got up and down from 195 yards away on the 14th fairway. He also had an eagle on the par-517th which he reached with a driver and a six-iron. 

Farr (Northamptonshire County), meanwhile, played his first round at Hesketh where he started with a birdie. Four more followed, together with a string of pars, until he dropped his only shot of the day on the 18th. 

Lamb, Hull and Farr are among a field of 288 competitors who are all aiming to be inside the top 64 and ties after Wednesday’s second round. That’s the number of players who will qualify for the match- play knock-out stages at Formby, ending with the 36-hole final on Sunday. 

The cut looks like being a low one after 49 players equalled par or better today. 

Among the others who made a good start were Brabazon Trophy winner Nick Poppleton (Wath), who is just back from GB and I duty at the St Andrews Trophy match against the Continent of Europe in Finland.

He’s on three-under, alongside another England international, Jake Burnage (Saunton), Sam Bairstow (Hallowes) and George Raitt (Whetstone). 

 

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