CHAMPIONSHIP

LLEWELLYN Matthews mounted a strong challenge last week during the 122nd Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s in Sandwich, Kent.

He was one of 21 players to completed the Strokeplay stage on the 141-shot cutline, having fired 73 on day one at Royal St George’s and 68 on the more score friendly Princes course.

That took him into the opening round of the Matchplay, and he de- feated Franck Medale (France) by one hole.

But in the round of 64 players, he lost 3&1 against Luca Cianchetti (Italy), who made it through to the semifinals before losing 3&2 to winner Harry Ellis of the Meon Valley club in Southampton.

In the final last Saturday, Ellis came from four holes down with five to play to pip Australian Dylan Perry in a thrilling final.

On the 35th and 36th holes, Ellis got pars compared to bogeys from Perry to take the final into a play-off.

They halved the 37th hole, and on the next Ellis won it with a par four compared to a six from the Aussie.

It’s the second consecutive year for Hampshire to celebrate a tournament win because a year ago Scott Gregory, who plays out of the Corhampton club, won at Royal Porthcawl.

Ironically, before Gregory triumphed last year, Hampshire had never produced an Amateur Championship winner.