Spain’s Benjamin Van Braak Hammer produced a stone-cold 63 (7-under) final round to win the 2026 Carris Trophy at Northamptonshire County Golf Club.
A bogey-free final day including two eagles – one of which came on the 18th hole, ensured a fantastic victory ahead of England Golf Boys’ Squad star George Whitehead.
Scotsman Aidan Lawson led by a shot heading into the final round but slipped away after dropping five shots through 11 holes, while Van Hammer Braak in the group ahead stormed into the lead with a -5 front nine.
Whitehead stayed in the mix but a key 60 seconds came as he three-putted the 11th as Van Braak Hammer rolled in a birdie on the 12th – going three shots clear.
Whitehead responded with two monstrous drives on 13 and 14, and up-and-downs yielded high-quality birdies to bring the deficit to just a shot – but two superb long-irons to the 18th green yielded a 15-foot eagle putt to seal victory for Van Braak Hammer.
The champion said: “Right now I can’t really tell you how it feels because I had an amazing eagle putt on the last! It’s incredible!
“On the 15th I found out I was leading so I got a bit nervous but I tried to take big breaths, breathe out quietly, and hit my shots! It’s a beautiful course but for me it wasn’t too tough because the fairways were like my home course in Spain which are very firm, so I was hitting many good iron shots.
“It’s definitely the biggest tournament I’ve won to date. It’s actually my best friend’s birthday so when I fly home in three hours, I will be going to his house and celebrating!”
Van Braak Hammer’s -7 on the final day was the round of the day by far, taking him to -13 overall, while Whitehead (Hillside) was two back on -11. North Hants’ Albie Beeston enjoyed a tremendous final day with a 3-under 67 taking him to -6 overall and tied-3rd place alongside Italy’s Giampaolo Gagliardi and Scotsman Lawson.
Whitehead ended up taking home the Malcolm Reid Salver after enjoying the best combined score from the McEvoy Trophy and Carris Trophy, having won at Copt Heath and finishing 2nd at Northamptonshire County.
Check out the final leaderboard here.
Scotsman Aidan Lawson led by a shot heading into the final round but slipped away after dropping five shots through 11 holes, while Van Hammer Braak in the group ahead stormed into the lead with a -5 front nine.
Whitehead stayed in the mix but a key 60 seconds came as he three-putted the 11th as Van Braak Hammer rolled in a birdie on the 12th – going three shots clear.
Whitehead responded with two monstrous drives on 13 and 14, and up-and-downs yielded high-quality birdies to bring the deficit to just a shot – but two superb long-irons to the 18th green yielded a 15-foot eagle putt to seal victory for Van Braak Hammer.
The champion said: “Right now I can’t really tell you how it feels because I had an amazing eagle putt on the last! It’s incredible!
“On the 15th I found out I was leading so I got a bit nervous but I tried to take big breaths, breathe out quietly, and hit my shots! It’s a beautiful course but for me it wasn’t too tough because the fairways were like my home course in Spain which are very firm, so I was hitting many good iron shots.
“It’s definitely the biggest tournament I’ve won to date. It’s actually my best friend’s birthday so when I fly home in three hours, I will be going to his house and celebrating!”
Van Braak Hammer’s -7 on the final day was the round of the day by far, taking him to -13 overall, while Whitehead (Hillside) was two back on -11. North Hants’ Albie Beeston enjoyed a tremendous final day with a 3-under 67 taking him to -6 overall and tied-3rd place alongside Italy’s Giampaolo Gagliardi and Scotsman Lawson.
Whitehead ended up taking home the Malcolm Reid Salver after enjoying the best combined score from the McEvoy Trophy and Carris Trophy, having won at Copt Heath and finishing 2nd at Northamptonshire County.
Check out the final leaderboard 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