Thurloway, from Chartham Park, was 7 under Saturday morning in a stunning quarterfinal. His opponent, Surrey’s Angus Flanagan, was also on top form and was 5 under and bogey free when he lost, 2 and 1.
Thurloway, who is at university in the U.S., brings good form into this championship, having just won the Walton Heath Trophy, scoring 9 under in sweltering temperatures.
“It was a good confidence booster,” he said. “This is the biggest final I have been in and I’m really looking forward to it and to playing around this great golf course another two times."
Joe Long ended the championship hopes of Brabazon Trophy winner Nick Poppleton in this morning’s quarters, signing off with a 14th hole birdie to win, 5 and 4.
This afternoon, he had to go to the 19th to win through to the final, after a battle with Callum Farr.
After a long series of halved holes, Long had worked his way to a 2-up lead after 15 holes, only to see it disappear. He lost the 16th hole after his approach spun back into a greenside bunker. On the 18th he could only watch as Farr played a magical pitch into the final green which finished stone dead for a winning birdie. Off they went into extra time but Farr was put on the back foot after finding a greenside bunker and Long’s steady play won through.
“I just stuck to my game plan,” said Long, as he described his reaction to having to play the 19th. “You feel the nerves a little bit, but I just stuck to my process.”
He, too, is in good form having been fourth in the Dutch U21 championship, and excited about the tomorrow’s prospects.
“It’s going to be a great experience, it’s all new to me but it’s all part of learning,” Long said. “I feel I’m in a really good mental head space at the minute. I’m pretty calm and able to stay in the present, no matter what is thrown at me.”
The 36-hole final starts Sunday at 8:30 a.m.