Surrey Golf YearBook 2016 Revised | Page 37

SURREY GOLF TEXT 2016_Surrey Golf Inside 06 03/03/2016 07:42 Page 35 but just like Augusta the best players triumphed once again. The members of the Club turned out in force to spectate and assist with ball spotting and scoring, which always makes an event more special for the aspiring young golfers. After two rounds the clear winner by three shots was Eoin Leonard from Wentworth Club with a magnificent total of 141, one less than the Standard Scratch of the day. Eoin has already had many successes as a junior player, and has been picked to play for Ireland this season. Second on 144 was Harrison Taae, also from Wentworth, who had flown back early from holiday to play the event, with great success. Also on 144 was Alfie Fox from Roehampton Club and Cameron Bell from Woodcote Park Golf Club, both excellent scores on what was a beautifully prepared test of golf. Thanks go out to all the staff and members of Purley Downs GC for providing a great course, and such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. U21 Colts Championship Winner - Kevin Lee after play off against Joe Carmody-Firth. The Amateur Championship The best Amateur golfers in Surrey embarked for the 2015 Surrey County Championships qualifying rounds over Malden GC and Coombe Hill GC on Friday 29th May. The weather was more akin to February during the morning round with high winds, heavy rain and the occasional lightning strike that had the players seeking shelter. Thankfully the afternoon was a bit more like the weather expected for the end of May. However the standard of golf was fairly exceptional all day with 4 players managing sub par rounds. Leading qualifier David Ryles, a 1st Team regular along with County Captain and last years runner up David Corben, U18 squad players Max O Hagan and Cameron Bell combining these under par rounds with filling the first 4 places in the qualifying. Cameron fresh from his victory earlier in the week in the South East Junior Championships at Effingham. The other qualifiers included previous finalist Andrew Inglis and all seven 1st team players available who had beaten Sussex away from home the previous weekend, the exception being Windlesham's Callum Mackay, who spent the weekend finishing 4th in the Scottish Open Strokeplay at Moray GC in Grampian. The cut fell on 151 (+9) which reflected the difficultly on the day. The 16 qualifiers set off on Saturday morning at Coombe Hill to battle out the places in the quarter finals. The matches were all tight through the first nine holes with only Mark Finbow of Banstead having an advantage through 6 holes. After an exciting morning including 2 of the matches playing extra holes the quarter finals wereD. Ryles v A.Inglis S. Crockett v D. Primrose L. Hirst v S.Bryan A. Finbow v D.Corben Saturday afternoon was an equally exciting event with Inglis coming back from being behind early to defeat Ryles, Primrose winning 4&3 over Crockett, Bryan defeating Hirst on the 16th whilst Corben beat Finbow early in the back nine. The Semi Finalists set off in gloomy conditions on Sunday morning, Inglis V Primrose and Corben V Bryan. Both Matches were close early on although Corben managed a 3up advantage through the turn and Inglis 2up on Primrose at the same stage. It was evident both matches would be close, in the end Primrose defeating Inglis on the 18th with Inglis narrowly missing a birdie putt to take the match to extra holes. Corben having been 3 up through 14 lost the 15th to a Bryan birdie and needed an exceptional bunker shot at the par 3 17th to secure a 2&1 victory. The final was delayed by 15 minutes due to torrential rain, which resulted in a few of the early greens needing the water being pushed away by some of the officials. Primrose took the early advantage at the first but Corben gains on 5,6 & 8 saw him lead by 2 holes going into the picturesque back nine. - 35 -