Praise for Porthcawl
GOLF
ROYAL Porthcawl again won glowing praise for the way they presented the 121st staging of The Amateur Golf Championship, writes Tony Poole.
Two years ago, they successfully staged the Rolex Senior Open Championship – and are set to do likewise next year.
This was the seventh occasion for Royal Porthcawl to stage the Amateur Championship, and a first time since 2002.
And the presentation of the Lock’s Common course was again first class despite heavy downpours of rain on most days.
Head greenkeeper Ian Kinley was delighted the golf course again proved a true test of golf.
He said: “It’s rewarding to see the best amateur golfers in the world tested on these links, and to hear positive comments regarding the condition of the course.
“Construction work during the winter revolved around The Amateur Championship and closer to the event, surface refinement intensified.
“The dedication, effort and professionalism displayed by the green staff and volunteers were truly appreciated.’’
Even the food gave a flavour of Wales while local junior schools received coaching via Golf Development Wales.
The tournament attracted 288 of the best amateur players worldwide and from 30 countries.
Again, the delights of Rest Bay were beamed into the homes of golf lovers via television highlights on Sky Sports.
The winner was 21-year-old Scott Gregory from the Corhampton club in Hampshire, who only entered the tournament in 44th spot on the world amateur rankings.
But in a nip-and-tuck final on Saturday with Scot Robert Macintyre from the Glencruitten club in Oban, he saw a three-hole lead shrink to one after the opening 18 holes.
Though Macintyre came out strong in the afternoon and led for the only time exiting hole 21, Gregory hit back and closed out a 2&1 victory with an eight-foot putt on the par-five 35th hole.
It punched his ticket into next month’s 145th Open at Royal Troon, the Masters next year along with the US Open at Erin Hills near Milwaukee.
“It’s a dream come true – you think about moments like these when you’re practising for hours,” said Gregory, who was runner-up earlier in the year in the Spanish Open.
“The Open Championship next month will be a new experience, and I will look to put in some decent practice.’’
When the event got under way a week last Monday, conditions at both Royal Porthcawl and fellow hosts Pyle & Kenfig were tranquil ahead of stormy weather throughout the week.
Frenchman Antoine Rozner shot an amazing 64 at Royal Porthcawl via a two on number four, birdies on holes five, eight, nine, 10 and 12 along with an eagle on 17 to lead after day one.
But once the rain arrived on Tuesday and the wind got up, scoring was more difficult ahead of the top-64 cut.
The best score for combined rounds at Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig came from Scot Connor Syme (Drumoig), who fired 68s on both courses for a sixunder-par tally of 136.
But once the numbers were crunched and the 64 survivors emerged, it was devoid of any Welshmen.
This was a disappointing state of affairs that failed to reflect the strength of the amateur game in Wales at the moment.
On Wednesday, just one round was staged and at the close of business, there were 32 players left in the tournament.
Two rounds were then held on Thursday and the quarter-final mix for Friday produced Spanish and Scottish duos along with a player each from England, France, Ireland and Poland.
And the quarter-finals produced surprises with top-ranked survivor, Ivan Cantero (Spain), losing 2&1 to Macintyre.
Walker Cup star Ewen Furguson was also a casualty, losing by two holes to Paul McBride from The Island club in Co Dublin.
In the Friday afternoon semi-finals, Gregory gained a 3&2 win over Adrian Merone (Poland), but the other tie was much closer.
Though Macintyre surrendered a dormie two situation to finish all square with McBride, he came again.
He held his nerve to triumph on the second extra hole only to ultimately finish runner-up to Gregory.
So, there’ll be plenty of Porthcawl golf lovers next month following the fortunes of Gregory in The Open at Royal Troon.