Juan Miro Asorey produced two outstanding putts to defeat Sullivan Goddard in a sudden death play-off and win the 2023 Reid Trophy at Sandiway Golf Club.
Juan Miro Asorey holds aloft the Reid Trophy at Sandiway Golf Club following his play-off victory
The 14-year-old followed the achievement of his compatriot Arian Rodríguez Burgos who lifted the title at Lincoln Golf Club 12 months ago and was understandably delighted with his efforts.
Playing together in the final group of the day in Cheshire, the pendulum swung both ways throughout but the pair couldn’t be separated after the final 18 holes of stroke play on Thursday afternoon.
Both boys made pars on the opening play-off hole but that only told half the story. Playing the 401-yard, par-four first, Goddard sank a tremendous long-range putt to heap the pressure on his Spanish opponent.
Asorey was up to the task though and he followed Goddard's putt in with a stunning effort of his own to ensure the drama would continue down the 352-yard, par-four eighth hole.
The Englishman reached the edge of the green in two and with his third shot, he chipped the ball to within two inches of the hole to put himself in with an excellent chance of a birdie and of the title.
Once again, Asorey had other ideas as with his third shot from the back of the green, he rolled in a truly magnificent 30-foot putt to ensure the Reid Trophy would be heading back to Spain for the second year in a row.
"I'm feeling so good right now," Asorey said. "I knew I had to hole the first putt in the play-off to stay in the match and when I did that, I felt a little bit less pressure heading to the next hole.
"For the second putt, I knew the ball was heading in with about ten metres still to go and I just wanted to shot 'Vamos!' before it had dropped in.
Playing together in the final group of the day in Cheshire, the pendulum swung both ways throughout but the pair couldn’t be separated after the final 18 holes of stroke play on Thursday afternoon.
Both boys made pars on the opening play-off hole but that only told half the story. Playing the 401-yard, par-four first, Goddard sank a tremendous long-range putt to heap the pressure on his Spanish opponent.
Asorey was up to the task though and he followed Goddard's putt in with a stunning effort of his own to ensure the drama would continue down the 352-yard, par-four eighth hole.
The Englishman reached the edge of the green in two and with his third shot, he chipped the ball to within two inches of the hole to put himself in with an excellent chance of a birdie and of the title.
Once again, Asorey had other ideas as with his third shot from the back of the green, he rolled in a truly magnificent 30-foot putt to ensure the Reid Trophy would be heading back to Spain for the second year in a row.
"I'm feeling so good right now," Asorey said. "I knew I had to hole the first putt in the play-off to stay in the match and when I did that, I felt a little bit less pressure heading to the next hole.
"For the second putt, I knew the ball was heading in with about ten metres still to go and I just wanted to shot 'Vamos!' before it had dropped in.
"It was amazing to have my mum and dad and all my Spanish teammates there watching me at the end and I'm so grateful for their support. It is a crazy time for me right now!"
Goddard began the day with a one-shot lead over Asorey and their fellow playing partner Constantin Bauer-Mitterlehner and it was a final round which went back and forth with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions.
At one stage in the afternoon, with the final group on the 13th tee, there was a four-way tie for the lead between Goddard, Asorey, Bauer-Mitterlehner and Alex Boyes as a tense finish loomed large.
Bauer-Mitterlehner's challenge faded with double bogeys at the 14th and 17th holes while Boyes was unlucky to get deep into trouble on the right-hand side of the 16th fairway and a subsequent triple bogey cost him his opportunity at a tilt for the title.
That left Goddard and Asorey as the two young men left standing and at the end of a short but thoroughly entertaining play-off, it was the Costa Azahar golfer who took home the trophy.
Photography credit: Leaderboard
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: pr@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: pr@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org