Thurloway joins prestigious list of Walton Heath winners

WALTON, England (July 26, 2018) - Tom Thurloway held on to his lead over the final two rounds of the Walton Heath Trophy. After a 36-hole day that tested players thanks to high temperatures, Thurloway was at 9-under 279 for the tournament. He was in the 60s in every round but the last at Walton Heath Golf Club.

With his victory, Thurloway, who played the past two seasons for the University of Toledo, joins a prestigious list of winners that includes 2017 Masters champion Danny Willett, who won the Walton Heath Trophy in 2007.

Behind Thurloway, Alasdair Plumb held on for runner-up honors at 7 under. Plumb matched Thurloway’s 1-over 73 in the final round. Plumb made up the most ground with a third-round 64, the lowest round of any competitor all week.

The winning putt for @ThomasThurloway 2018 #WaltonHeathTrophy winner! #SupportingAmateurGolf pic.twitter.com/mdCZxxRh1h

— Walton Heath Trophy (@WHTrophy) July 26, 2018

Three players tied for third at 5 under, including Ryan Brooks, Harry Goddard and Tom Sloman. Interestingly, Brooks and Goddard were the only players of the 39 who made the cut to break par in the final round.

SECOND-ROUND RECAP

The first-round leaders tumbled down the leaderboard Wednesday at the Walton Heath Trophy as Tom Thurloway rose to the top spot. Even though Thurloway started his day with a bogey, he quickly go on the right track, following with four bogeys over the rest of the front nine at Walton Heath Golf Club. He went 1 under on the back nine to finish the day with a 4-under 68 that gave him a one-shot lead.

Thurloway, who spent the past two seasons on the University of Toledo roster, is at 7 under for the tournament after a first-round 69. He is followed closely by Rhys Nevin-Wharton, whose opening rounds of 68-70 left him at 6-under. Harry Goddard, with rounds of 68-70, is also on that number.

As for the first-round co-leaders, Robbie Morrison backed up a 67 with a 75 to to fall to 16th. Daniel Bradbury had one worse, a 76, to fall into 19th.

FIRST-ROUND RECAP

Australian Robbie Morrison and Daniel Bradbury took control on the first day of the Walton Heath Trophy with opening rounds of 5-under 67. Morrison, who made it to match play in three major Australian amateur events this year, had four consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-16 coming in to get to that number. Bradbury, meanwhile, interspersed his seven birdies evenly with two bogeys throughout the day. Conditions were warm at sunny at Walton Heath Club to start the tournament, formerly known as the South of England Open Amateur. The top 32 players on the leaderboard broke par. Behind the co-leaders, six players posted rounds of 4-under 68. Defending champion Jake Burnage opened with 1-over 73, which left him just inside the top 50.