Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Open returns to Sandwich in 2020
Golf
The 2020 Open golf Championship is to be staged at Royal St George’s.
The 149th Open will be played from July 12-19, 2020, marking a return to the Sandwich course for the first time since 2011 when Irishman Darren Clarke emerged triumphant.
James Furber, Royal St George’s captain, welcomed the news. He said: “We are delighted and honoured to be invited to host The Open in 2020.
“This is tremendous news for the club and a wonderful commercial opportunity for Sandwich, Thanet and Kent.
“The club are most grateful to all those in the local authorities and the local MPS who have worked so hard with us over the last few years to bring this about.
“We look forward to working with The R&A and others over the next three years to deliver one of the world’s most prestigious championships.”
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, added: “We are looking forward to the return of The Open to Royal St George’s in 2020. The Open is a true celebration of sport and the global spotlight will fall again on Sandwich.
“Royal St George’s has produced a series of outstanding champion golfers over the last 120 years and it is a thrilling prospect for golf fans to see the greatest golfers competing on one of the world’s finest links courses again.”
Royal St George’s first hosted The Open in 1894 – the first time the championship was played outside of Scotland.
Peter and Mark Kelk won the fourball betterball Stableford played at Chestfield on Sunday.
The pair carded 46 points to finish two clear of runners-up Terry Jemmett and Ray Beer with Mark Platts and Jason Robson in third on countback.
In fourth place were Paul Gamble and Mick Lane, also on 42 points and just beating Rob and Jack Tucker on countback.