Jake Burnage Wins the South of England at Walton Heath

TADWORTH, ENGLAND (July 27, 2017) - Jake Burnage held off fellow Englishman Jack Yule to win the South of England Open Amateur at Walton Heath Golf Club. The two golfers were neck and neck the entire tournament. They shot identical rounds of 68-70 to separate themselves from the field at the halfway point, before Burnage's 68 in round three put him one ahead of Yule with one round to play. Yule pulled even at the fourth hole on Thursday, but immediately bogeyed the long par-four fifth to fall one behind again. The big swing occurred at the par-5 eighth, with Burnage's birdie producing a two-shot swing and a three-shot lead. Burnage maintained that lead all the way to the eighteenth tee but found trouble on the 479-yard par four while Yule was on his way to making birdie. Suddenly it looked like all might be lost as Burnage faced a four-foot bogey putt for the win, but he smoothly rolled it in to clinch the title. Burnage has had a good amateur season with several top finishes but not a breakthrough win until this week. He finished runner-up in the English Amateur (Brabazon Trophy), third in the Lytham Trophy and fourth in the Duncan Putter. His record at Walton Heath is excellent, finishing third and fourth in the South of England the last two years before becoming the champion on Thursday.

.@jake_burnage safely bogeys the last to win The South of England Open Amateur @SEOACGolf on -11. Results: https://t.co/vQKwjXW5sZ pic.twitter.com/ggZQBJxshI

— Golf Bible (@GolfBible) July 27, 2017