Billingham’s Order of Merit hat-trick glory

COUNTY VICE-CAPTAIN SEES OFF ANDERSON CHALLENGE

AT the start of the season, county vice-captain James Billingham (Cosby) outlined his target for the new campaign – to successfully defend the county golf union Order of Merit he had won for the last two years, writes Jennifer Prentice.

He made what he described as “quite a slow start” but his resolute determination remained unchallenged over all the trials and tribulations demonstrated by the weather this year.

Points for this OOM county award are made for tournament finishes and inter-county clash successes throughout the whole season.

By the end of the county fixtures, he had edged into top spot for the third year in a row.

Billingham had done so by just 18 points and he is only the second golfer to win three successive OOM titles.

“It came down to late on in one of the last county competitions – the BabyStyle County Open,” he said.

“Martin Anderson, who is the county captain, from Glen Gorse, and I were neck-and-neck at this stage, so we really had our own private battle to resolve the issue. I just pipped Martin.

“I had a total of 625 points and he ended with 607 – it just couldn’t have been much closer at all.

“Of course, I am highly delighted to achieve victory in the OOM again.

“I believe it displays a run of form throughout so many months, so to me, it represents more in many ways than a one-off championship win.”

Billingham collected Anglian League points early on, as well as featuring in the county’s Eastern Counties Foursomes championship success at Skegness in May.

But his form started to really pick up in the county championship at Luffenham Heath – the first time ithe event had been contested there for several years.

Soon afterwards, Billingham defended his Leicestershire Fox title, a Midland Golf Union counting event.

“It was just a few days before I got married and I helped myself to a special wedding present by regaining this coveted trophy,” he said.

At the BabyStyle County Open, at Hinckley, the overall winner was Matthew Cort, the Beedles Lakebased professional, with his 6-under-par 136 total.

But Billingham after 72-69-141 was the top amateur. And he collected his crucial OOM points.

The salver will be presented to him at the county annual dinner in February.