British Mid-Amateur: Sudden-Death Victory for Young
Picture: Richard Heathcote-Getty Images, courtesy R&A
SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE, ENGLAND (August 20, 2006) -- A par three at the first extra hole gave Cumbrian Simon Young the British Mid-Amateur Championship title after an enthralling struggle with Lancashire amateur champion John Carroll at Southport & Ainsdale.
The new champion, a 27-year-old porter at the West Cumbrian hospital in Whitehaven, said: “I’m over the moon. It’s been a amazing week.
“At this level you’re happy just to qualify for the match-play stages, anything else is a bonus. And winning it has certainly been a big bonus. You have to make birdies to win holes and I’ve made a lot this week.”
As well as the trophy, which he holds for a year, and a gold medal, Young gets an invitation to the American Mid-Amateur Championship at the Forest Highland Golf and Country Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, from September 9-14. “I’d obviously love to go but I’ll have to sit down with my wife Helen and see if we can afford it,” said Young, a plus one member at the Workington club.
Carroll, also 27, from the Huyton & Prescot club in Liverpool, looked favourite to win when Young three-putted the 17th green, missing his par putt from under four feet, to go one down. But Carroll had had a bad afternoon with his driver, hitting just one fairway. He took a three-iron from the 18th tee, but it kicked into a bunker and when he didn’t get out first time Young put his second on the green forcing the match into extra holes.
At the 19th Carroll hit what he later descibed as one of his worst shots of the week, pulling a four-iron well left and although he got his recovery to eight feet he missed the putt and Young chipped stone dead from the back of the green.
“I’m happy with second. It would have been nice to win but it’s been a really great week and I did come second out of 140 of the top amateurs in the game,” said Carroll.
ABOUT THE British Mid-Amateur
The British Mid-Amateur Championship has an age qualification of over 25 on the first day of the tournament, and there is a handicap limit of two for the event.
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