Woburn’s John Kemp made history to win the English Senior Men’s Stroke Play Championship for a third straight year, having finished as the only player under par over three rounds across Woodbridge and Ipswich (Purdis Heath) Golf Clubs.
Woburn’s John Kemp made history to win the English Senior Men’s Stroke Play Championship for a third straight year, having finished as the only player under par over three rounds across Woodbridge and Ipswich (Purdis Heath) Golf Clubs.
Kemp, who won at Gog Magog/Saffron Walden in 2024 and Woodhall Spa in 2025, shot rounds of 69 (-1) at Woodbridge and 68 (-3) at Ipswich before a final-day 73 (+2) at Ipswich to secure the title by four shots.
BB&O’s Kemp joins Lancashire’s Alan Squires in becoming just the second person to win three straight English Senior Men’s Stroke Play titles. He said: “It feels magnificent, I loved it. The first two days set me up. It was in the back of my mind winning three in a row, but in all honesty I did the work in the first two days, I played lovely. Today, I started great, struggled in the middle, but finished well.
"It was tough conditions all week, breezy, rainy - I don't play those conditions anymore - I'm a senior! I don't want to play in those conditions, it wasn't nice! But we all had to battle through it and I knuckled down. I've got to say a thank you to my coach Chris Forsyth as we changed my swing. When we won in 2024, I didn't like my swing - and you have to like your swing! He's made a big difference to me. This year it's feeling a lot better and I'm hoping to progress for the rest of the season."
Despite his victory, there was no time for celebrations, as he revealed: "We're off to Cyprus for the European Senior Amateur tomorrow! My wife's packed, I go home now and at 5am we leave the house. I'll have a couple of days to chill out and then I'll be into the Europeans."
Kemp will be returning in 2027 to try and win a fourth English Men's Stroke Play title – something only achieved by Cheshire’s Roy Smethurst, who won in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.
He added: “I'll be back at Liphook and Hindhead next year to try and win it a record fourth time. It's in my diary all the time, so I'm looking forward to it. I'd love to make a bit of history and do four in a row - it's a big ask as there are some great players coming through and I'm getting closer to the 60 bracket now, but all being well, I'll be there!"
Kemp raced out the blocks in the final round at Ipswich with back-to-back birdies to build more breathing space, after Jody Fanagan threw himself into contention with a 6-under 65 at Ipswich on day two. But the Irishman couldn’t quite get within touching distance as a final round +1 saw him finish 2nd on +1 overall. He did however finish top of the 60-64 category.
A final-day -3 (68) for Brokenhurst Manor’s Martin Young saw him take 3rd spot on +2 overall.
Elsewhere, Northwood’s Justin Phelps enjoyed the round of the day with a bogey-free -5 (66) to catapult him into the top 10. Ashridge’s Simon Kay finished on +4 overall to be the top player in the 65+ category. Check out the final leaderboards here.
Kemp, who won at Gog Magog/Saffron Walden in 2024 and Woodhall Spa in 2025, shot rounds of 69 (-1) at Woodbridge and 68 (-3) at Ipswich before a final-day 73 (+2) at Ipswich to secure the title by four shots.
BB&O’s Kemp joins Lancashire’s Alan Squires in becoming just the second person to win three straight English Senior Men’s Stroke Play titles. He said: “It feels magnificent, I loved it. The first two days set me up. It was in the back of my mind winning three in a row, but in all honesty I did the work in the first two days, I played lovely. Today, I started great, struggled in the middle, but finished well.
"It was tough conditions all week, breezy, rainy - I don't play those conditions anymore - I'm a senior! I don't want to play in those conditions, it wasn't nice! But we all had to battle through it and I knuckled down. I've got to say a thank you to my coach Chris Forsyth as we changed my swing. When we won in 2024, I didn't like my swing - and you have to like your swing! He's made a big difference to me. This year it's feeling a lot better and I'm hoping to progress for the rest of the season."
Despite his victory, there was no time for celebrations, as he revealed: "We're off to Cyprus for the European Senior Amateur tomorrow! My wife's packed, I go home now and at 5am we leave the house. I'll have a couple of days to chill out and then I'll be into the Europeans."
Kemp will be returning in 2027 to try and win a fourth English Men's Stroke Play title – something only achieved by Cheshire’s Roy Smethurst, who won in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.
He added: “I'll be back at Liphook and Hindhead next year to try and win it a record fourth time. It's in my diary all the time, so I'm looking forward to it. I'd love to make a bit of history and do four in a row - it's a big ask as there are some great players coming through and I'm getting closer to the 60 bracket now, but all being well, I'll be there!"
Kemp raced out the blocks in the final round at Ipswich with back-to-back birdies to build more breathing space, after Jody Fanagan threw himself into contention with a 6-under 65 at Ipswich on day two. But the Irishman couldn’t quite get within touching distance as a final round +1 saw him finish 2nd on +1 overall. He did however finish top of the 60-64 category.
A final-day -3 (68) for Brokenhurst Manor’s Martin Young saw him take 3rd spot on +2 overall.
Elsewhere, Northwood’s Justin Phelps enjoyed the round of the day with a bogey-free -5 (66) to catapult him into the top 10. Ashridge’s Simon Kay finished on +4 overall to be the top player in the 65+ category. Check out the final leaderboards here.
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org