Perry faces Ellis in final

Hampshire’s Harry Ellis will face Australian Dylan Perry in the final of the Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s.

Ellis, 21, who at 16 became the youngest winner of the English Amateur Championship in 2012, came from behind to beat European amateur champion Luca Cianchetti 3&2.

Victory over Perry, who saw off Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti 3&2, would earn Ellis a place in next month’s Open at Royal Birkdale and next year’s US Open. The winner is also invited to the US Masters. up an impressive total of 16 birdies in total over the three days on the superbly presented Capital venue.

“My putting was definitely the key this week and the Royal Burgess greens, which were in fantastic conditions, really suited my eye,” he said.

“I obviously didn’t get off to a great start on the first day, but I knuckled down and started holing a few putts after that and was able to get more aggressive,” added Bell, whose son Ross was a winner of the Home Internationals with the Scotland Men’s team in 2012.

“I knew I had the game to win this week and the course has some similarities to Downfield so I felt quite at home. I played a couple of practice rounds with John Fraser, who is a member here, which really helped me work my way round the course.”

“It was good to play with defending champion Stephen East, who is an excellent player and that also helped me focus.

I’m delighted to get my first national win under my belt and look forward to challenging at Sunningdale in the British.”

Fraser, a former captain at the home club, took the award for the leading over65 in the field, despite slipping to a share of 21st spot on 223 with a closing 79, while Stoneham’s Alan Mew took the bronze medal with a two-over par aggregate of 214, matching runner-up Foster’s impressive final round of level par 71.