Southgate clinches St. Andrews Links trophy

June 6, 2010 | by

- St. Andrews Links photo

Matthew Southgate conquers driving rain with a remarkable 67 to win by 5 shots

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (June 6, 2010) -- Matthew Southgate from Thorpe Hill shrugged off the driving rain at the Old Course to run away with the St Andrews Links Trophy with a remarkable five under par 67 which left him five clear of his nearest rivals. Southgate clinched the victory with a par on the final hole after his drive found Granny Clark's Wind from where he could only chip the ball forward before pitching to two feet and holing out. The former Essex Amateur Champion rushed to hug his father Ian, who had travelled overnight from their home in England, and struggled to fight back the tears. "To win here at the Home of Golf is very special but to do it in front of my family like this is just unbelievable," he said. "For most of the season I haven't been holing anything but today my putter came good at last." Philip McLean from Peterhead and Stiggy Hodgson from Sunningdale both birdied the last to post eight under par totals of 280. They finished one shot clear of Englishmen Tom Lewis, Jack Senior and Todd Adcock in third. The Links Trophy is sponsored by Allianz, the global partner of St Andrews Links. Round three Stiggy Hodgson from Sunningdale took a one shot lead into the final round after carding a five under 67 on the Old Course. Hodgson's 207 total left him at nine under par for the tournament, one shot clear of countryman Matthew Southgate and Wales' Ben Westgate on eight under par. In a leaderboard dominated by Englishmen, Tom Lewis from Welwyn Garden City and Chris Lloyd from the Kendleshire were one shot further back on seven under par. The highest placed Scot going in to the final round was Matthew Clark from Kilmacolm who was one of six players on five under along with Peruvian Patricio Salem and Romain Wattel from France, fresh from his victory in the Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship last weekend. Round two There was a three-way tie for the lead after the second round on the Jubilee Course with Englishman Matthew Southgate sitting on six under par with Ben Westgate from Wales and Daniel Lokke from Denmark. A shot further back on 139 was Tom Lewis from Welwyn Garden City and the Scottish challenge was led by Philip McLean from Peterhead who was one of nine players on 140 at four under par. Round one Daniel Lokke from Denmark took the lead ater round one with an excellent six under par 66 on the Jubilee Course. The 21 year-old Lokke led by one from Peruivan Patricio Salem, who shot a remarkable 67 on his first visit to Scotland, and former Welsh amateur champion Ben Westagte. Local knowledge helped Greg Paterson, from the New Golf Club of St Andrews, to a three under par 69. The former St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association member led the home challenge finishing a shot ahead of Downfield's Ross Bell and Philip McLean from Peterhead.

Results: St. Andrews Links Trophy

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Matthew Southgate	, England	1500	68-70-70-67--285
T2	Stiggy Hodgson	, England	1000	69-71-67-73--280
T2	Philip McLean	, Scotland	1000	70-70-72-68--280
T4	Tom Lewis	, England	700	69-70-70-72--281
T4	Jack Senior	, England	700	70-73-67-71--281

View full results for St. Andrews Links Trophy

About the St. Andrews Links Trophy

Southgate clinches St. Andrews Links trophy

72-hole stroke play that draws one of the top amateur fields in Europe. Field plays two rounds, one at the Old Course and one additional (sometimes the Jubilee, sometimes the New), then the field is cut to the low 40 and ties. The final two rounds ar...