Hayling ace holds nerve in play-off to claim trophy triumph
HAYLING’S Toby Burden became the second Hampshire player to land the prestigious Gerald Micklem Trophy at Sunningdale, beating Woburn’s John Kemp in a playoff.
He received the trophy from one of the Berkshire club’s most famous members, Sam Torrance, captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning team in 2001.
In tricky conditions, the newly-crowned Hampshire Mid-Amateur Champion had to be at his very best to win one of Europe’s top mid-amateur events.
Burden said: ‘I am so pleased to win one of the biggest events in mid-amateur golf. Gerald Micklem was a legend in the amateur game.
‘To see my name on that trophy and on the honours board at Sunningdale in future years is going to mean so much to me.’
Burden bounced back brilliantly from a run of three bogeys on his front nine on the New Course, which left him trailing Kemp by a shot at the turn.
He birdied the 12th and picked up two shots at the par-three 14th thanks to a two, while Kemp made four, to draw level.
After both made birdie fours at the last in regulation, they headed back down the first, with Burden making a solid par from eight feet to stay in the game.
And playing 18 for a fourth time in two days, the former English Champion of Champion hit a two-iron to get on in two.
And with a very fast eagle putt from 18 feet, he managed to convert his birdie putt from two feet past the hole to secure the win, which also earned valuable World Amateur Ranking points, as Kemp could not convert from 15 feet after finding rough off the tee.
‘The course was in fantastic condition, but it was very soft which made it play long. Scoring was really hard, as I found out on the front nine as a result,’ added Burden.
‘And to beat two former Micklem champions in the final three-ball shows how hard it was to win.’
Burden was just a shot behind 36-hole leader Peter Finch and level with Kemp.
Burden had put himself in contention with rounds of 68 and 72 on the first day, making seven birdies in the process.