- Lancashire’s William Sandoz wins Boys’ Champion of Champions after play-off
- Driver off deck helps 18-year-old secure awesome eagle in final round four-under
- Lincolnshire’s Levi Desmond shoots -4 to become Men’s Champion of Champions and join decorated list of winners including Tommy Fleetwood & Nick Faldo
- Sussex’s Doug Park only player to shoot under-par to win Senior Men’s Champion of Champions
Woodhall Spa’s Hotchkin Course played host to the Boys’, Men’s and Senior Men’s Champion of Champions competitions at the weekend, as the top players from each county battled it out in the annual event.
Boys’ Champion of Champions
William Sandoz (Lancashire, pictured above) edged Gavin Ingram (Derbyshire) in a single-hole play-off after the pair both carded -6 across their two rounds on Saturday. Sandoz shot rounds of 71 and 69 – the latter which included a special eagle on the front-nine and a stunning four-under back-nine. Ingram meanwhile fired an incredible 66 in his first round which included an eagle and five birdies to finish -7 while his second-round 74 ensured a play-off.
In the second round, Sandoz struck one of the shots of the tournament on the par-five 6th where, with 270 yards into wind, he hit a driver off the deck. And he admitted: “It was very risky. I hit it to 20 foot and holed the putt for eagle and that’s when I realised it was game on as I didn’t know I had that shot in me till I hit it. I never practise that shot, I was just thinking don’t top it as that would be embarrassing but it was nice that it came off and suddenly, I was thinking about winning.
“I was five behind after the first round and didn’t expect anything, but I heard that Gavin double-bogeyed the last and I birdied the last two.”
With almost an hour’s wait till the play-off, Sandoz stepped up to deliver a 20-foot putt for the win on the 1st after Ingram was left with a near tap-in for par. The Carden Park golfer explained: “It felt a lot longer than an hour! I was on the first tee trying to stay loose as it was getting a bit colder with daylight disappearing. When I hit the tee shot, it felt like I hadn’t lost my swing throughout the wait and then I stuck a wedge to 20 feet and I had the same putt as I did in the morning. I knew exactly where it was going and I hit it with enough pace so that I didn’t leave it short.”
Being crowned Boys’ Champion of Champions adds Sandoz to a list of coveted winners including major winner Matt Fitzpatrick. He added: “It was a bit of shock to the system, I got back to the hotel and I was just looking at the names on the trophy. To have my name on there alongside names like that is quite special. It’s a nice feeling.
“You know nobody in this tournament is a bad golfer. Everyone knows how to win so to be able to come out on top of that feels better than winning your local county one. It’s nice to go into winter finishing with a win and to get exemption to play in the Brabazon Trophy is something I’m looking forward to.”
Harrison Sewell (Northumberland) was just one shot back of the leaders with Jake Wallis (Yorkshire) in 4th. Joshua Gardner (Warwickshire) and Cassius Blake (Worcestershire) were the only other players to finish below par in the 30-player field.
William Sandoz (Lancashire, pictured above) edged Gavin Ingram (Derbyshire) in a single-hole play-off after the pair both carded -6 across their two rounds on Saturday. Sandoz shot rounds of 71 and 69 – the latter which included a special eagle on the front-nine and a stunning four-under back-nine. Ingram meanwhile fired an incredible 66 in his first round which included an eagle and five birdies to finish -7 while his second-round 74 ensured a play-off.
In the second round, Sandoz struck one of the shots of the tournament on the par-five 6th where, with 270 yards into wind, he hit a driver off the deck. And he admitted: “It was very risky. I hit it to 20 foot and holed the putt for eagle and that’s when I realised it was game on as I didn’t know I had that shot in me till I hit it. I never practise that shot, I was just thinking don’t top it as that would be embarrassing but it was nice that it came off and suddenly, I was thinking about winning.
“I was five behind after the first round and didn’t expect anything, but I heard that Gavin double-bogeyed the last and I birdied the last two.”
With almost an hour’s wait till the play-off, Sandoz stepped up to deliver a 20-foot putt for the win on the 1st after Ingram was left with a near tap-in for par. The Carden Park golfer explained: “It felt a lot longer than an hour! I was on the first tee trying to stay loose as it was getting a bit colder with daylight disappearing. When I hit the tee shot, it felt like I hadn’t lost my swing throughout the wait and then I stuck a wedge to 20 feet and I had the same putt as I did in the morning. I knew exactly where it was going and I hit it with enough pace so that I didn’t leave it short.”
Being crowned Boys’ Champion of Champions adds Sandoz to a list of coveted winners including major winner Matt Fitzpatrick. He added: “It was a bit of shock to the system, I got back to the hotel and I was just looking at the names on the trophy. To have my name on there alongside names like that is quite special. It’s a nice feeling.
“You know nobody in this tournament is a bad golfer. Everyone knows how to win so to be able to come out on top of that feels better than winning your local county one. It’s nice to go into winter finishing with a win and to get exemption to play in the Brabazon Trophy is something I’m looking forward to.”
Harrison Sewell (Northumberland) was just one shot back of the leaders with Jake Wallis (Yorkshire) in 4th. Joshua Gardner (Warwickshire) and Cassius Blake (Worcestershire) were the only other players to finish below par in the 30-player field.
Men’s Champion of Champions
Lincolnshire’s Levi Desmond (pictured above) was crowned Men’s Champion of Champions after shooting two rounds of -2 on Sunday, to join a list of winners that includes golfing stars Tommy Fleetwood, Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle. The 31-year-old bagged three birdies in each round on the Hotchkin Course as he edged Freddie Turnell (Somerset), James Whyte (Sussex) and James Nash (Lancashire) who all finished just a shot back in the 23-man field.
It was a memorable day for Desmond, who admitted he almost missed the tournament. He explained: “On Saturday I had an ear infection so I was going to pull out of the event but I took some painkillers on Sunday morning and put my big boy pants on! It was a case of just trying to get two rounds in and see what happens. It was pretty steady as I only made two bogeys across both rounds and one of those I should’ve made birdie, as I was only 200 yards into the par-five. I made a 30-footer for birdie on 14 which was crucial as I was playing alongside James Nash who was challenging, and I knew if I could beat him and nobody else came in better, I would win.
“I blocked my three-iron on 16 which was heading out of bounds and hit a tree and came back into play, but I managed a par in the end so that was a bit fortunate as it could have gone either way then!”
Talking about his achievement, Desmond continued: “It was massive really, I’ve had quite a good year in what’s been my first year back playing amateur events after coming back from being a pro. I had a couple of years off and last year it was about coming back into it and this year I decided to play some amateur stuff to see how I’d get on. I finished 14th at the Brabazon Trophy, 2nd in the Danny Willett Salver, 3rd at the Duncan Putter and 15th in the Berkshire Trophy, so it’s been a pretty good year.”
On celebrations, Desmond, who works in landscaping added: “I went back to my home club Sleaford to have a couple of beers and chat with all the guys I usually play with, and then went back to sleep as I’d been up since 4.30am and had to be up for work on Monday morning!”
Desmond will be in action at the Men’s County Finals for Lincolnshire at Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club from September 29-October 1, with Yorkshire, Kent and Gloucestershire also competing for the title.
Lincolnshire’s Levi Desmond (pictured above) was crowned Men’s Champion of Champions after shooting two rounds of -2 on Sunday, to join a list of winners that includes golfing stars Tommy Fleetwood, Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle. The 31-year-old bagged three birdies in each round on the Hotchkin Course as he edged Freddie Turnell (Somerset), James Whyte (Sussex) and James Nash (Lancashire) who all finished just a shot back in the 23-man field.
It was a memorable day for Desmond, who admitted he almost missed the tournament. He explained: “On Saturday I had an ear infection so I was going to pull out of the event but I took some painkillers on Sunday morning and put my big boy pants on! It was a case of just trying to get two rounds in and see what happens. It was pretty steady as I only made two bogeys across both rounds and one of those I should’ve made birdie, as I was only 200 yards into the par-five. I made a 30-footer for birdie on 14 which was crucial as I was playing alongside James Nash who was challenging, and I knew if I could beat him and nobody else came in better, I would win.
“I blocked my three-iron on 16 which was heading out of bounds and hit a tree and came back into play, but I managed a par in the end so that was a bit fortunate as it could have gone either way then!”
Talking about his achievement, Desmond continued: “It was massive really, I’ve had quite a good year in what’s been my first year back playing amateur events after coming back from being a pro. I had a couple of years off and last year it was about coming back into it and this year I decided to play some amateur stuff to see how I’d get on. I finished 14th at the Brabazon Trophy, 2nd in the Danny Willett Salver, 3rd at the Duncan Putter and 15th in the Berkshire Trophy, so it’s been a pretty good year.”
On celebrations, Desmond, who works in landscaping added: “I went back to my home club Sleaford to have a couple of beers and chat with all the guys I usually play with, and then went back to sleep as I’d been up since 4.30am and had to be up for work on Monday morning!”
Desmond will be in action at the Men’s County Finals for Lincolnshire at Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club from September 29-October 1, with Yorkshire, Kent and Gloucestershire also competing for the title.
Senior Men’s Champion of Champions
Cooden Beach Golf Club’s Doug Park (pictured above) was the only player in the 28-man field to shoot under-par and it was his -1 which won the tournament, two ahead of nearest competitor Simon Crockett (Surrey). Anthony Tomlin (Durham) and Paul Wharton (Lincolnshire) finished a further two shots back while Simon Knowles (Cornwall) finished in 5th.
Park, 61, said: “Words cannot describe the feeling of winning such a prestigious event with such great golfers and I’m immensely proud to have won it representing Sussex.”
Park admitted how some advice on the practice day and a couple of miraculous shots helping him to recover pars aided his victory. He explained: “The people I was playing with, we were all playing lovely golf and you all feed off each other. I drove the ball well but in the practice round I played with Paul Wharton who explained some of the places not to hit, and it was spot-on advice which I followed. In the whole two days I only hit one bunker and I think that was the key as they are so dangerous.
“There were two shots which probably won the competition for me. On the par-three 8th hole, the ball hit the side of the green but kicked right into the gorse and you could hardly see it. I had about 20 foot of green to play with and the bunker ahead of me, and I said to my caddy: “I’m not sure how I’m going to get this ball out of here but whatever happens, happens!” It came out like an absolute peach to about four feet. I holed the putt and ran very quickly!
“On the final day I laid up to the par-five and the ball ran into thick stuff where I couldn’t see it. I hacked it out with a 58-degree wedge just onto the edge of the green and two-putted for par and ran off like a train, as it could’ve been a very big number!”
He added: “I celebrated with a meal out with county captain Rick Thomas who was my caddy and he was a stalwart on the day, along with my wife and the secretary of Sussex.
“To anyone who is going to play in the various County Championships, if you get an opportunity to represent your county in such an event, it is such a privilege and a pleasure to play such a wonderful golf course and you meet some fantastic people. To win it is a dream I never thought would come true. It’s amazing.”
Cooden Beach Golf Club’s Doug Park (pictured above) was the only player in the 28-man field to shoot under-par and it was his -1 which won the tournament, two ahead of nearest competitor Simon Crockett (Surrey). Anthony Tomlin (Durham) and Paul Wharton (Lincolnshire) finished a further two shots back while Simon Knowles (Cornwall) finished in 5th.
Park, 61, said: “Words cannot describe the feeling of winning such a prestigious event with such great golfers and I’m immensely proud to have won it representing Sussex.”
Park admitted how some advice on the practice day and a couple of miraculous shots helping him to recover pars aided his victory. He explained: “The people I was playing with, we were all playing lovely golf and you all feed off each other. I drove the ball well but in the practice round I played with Paul Wharton who explained some of the places not to hit, and it was spot-on advice which I followed. In the whole two days I only hit one bunker and I think that was the key as they are so dangerous.
“There were two shots which probably won the competition for me. On the par-three 8th hole, the ball hit the side of the green but kicked right into the gorse and you could hardly see it. I had about 20 foot of green to play with and the bunker ahead of me, and I said to my caddy: “I’m not sure how I’m going to get this ball out of here but whatever happens, happens!” It came out like an absolute peach to about four feet. I holed the putt and ran very quickly!
“On the final day I laid up to the par-five and the ball ran into thick stuff where I couldn’t see it. I hacked it out with a 58-degree wedge just onto the edge of the green and two-putted for par and ran off like a train, as it could’ve been a very big number!”
He added: “I celebrated with a meal out with county captain Rick Thomas who was my caddy and he was a stalwart on the day, along with my wife and the secretary of Sussex.
“To anyone who is going to play in the various County Championships, if you get an opportunity to represent your county in such an event, it is such a privilege and a pleasure to play such a wonderful golf course and you meet some fantastic people. To win it is a dream I never thought would come true. It’s amazing.”
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