Hopkins Hogs the limelight to lift Hampshire trophy
MAX Hopkins became the latest young England talent to put his name alongside Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose on the Hampshire Hog trophy thanks to a one-shot victory at North Hants Golf Club.
Hopkins, 19, is a former England junior international who held off a strong challenge from two of the England Golf squad at the Fleet course, where Rose made a name for himself by beating the nation’s best amateurs aged just 14 back in 1995.
Bishop’s Stortford‘s Hopkins, who tackled the tough spring conditions by firing his wedges at the pins to make eight birdies over two rounds – with only one of those putts outside what he called “tap-in ranges”.
The teenager carded a two-under par 68 before lunch, and was heading for an even better 67 until bogeys at his last two holes, the short par three eighth and the long par four ninth, saw him come home in 69 with two bogeys to his name in the first round and three in the second.
That was enough to beat Gloucestershire’s Joe Harvey, a beaten finalist in the Amateur Championship two years ago, by one shot after the England international carded a second round 68 to go with his opening 70. A bogey five at the long second took him back to two-under par, but he could not find the birdie needed to force a play-off, finishing with seven straight pars.
The host club ended up with five players in the field after some late drop-outs, including Hampshire captain Neil Dawson, from Hook.
North Hants’ Harry McGill finished in 17th on four-over after rounds of 71 and 73, having fired a magnificent 11 birdies in total, including seven in his opening effort. However, a treble bogey eight at the third in the second round spoiled hopes of a top-10 in an excellent display by the three-handicapper, against many players whose handicaps were six and seven shots better.
Stoneham’s Hampshire player Ryan Moody was the county’s leading finisher in 13th place, bouncing back from a 74 with a fine 69 after lunch that included three bogeys.