Finch Wins at St. Andrews
England Elite Squad member Richard Finch (Hull) won the St.
Andrews Links Trophy at the weekend with an 11 under par total
of 276. Rounds of 71-66-69 & 70 were good enough to seal
victory for Finch by six strokes from fellow Elite Squad member
Lee Corfield (Burnham & Berrow) with Scot Jack Doherty
in 3rd place.
Corfield led the tournament on day 1 with an opening round
of 4 under par 67 on the New Course followed by 72-72 &
70 on the Old Course. Finch, the current English Champion
having opened with a level par round of 71 on the New Course
then moved up a gear on the Old Course with a 6 under par
second round 66 followed by 69 & 70 to play the famous
championship links in 11 under par.
Richard’s victory in a truly international field, possibly
the strongest yet assembled this year lifts him to 2nd place
in the PING/EGU Order of Merit behind fellow Yorkshireman
Jon Lupton (Middlesborough) who won the Brabazon Trophy last
week at Hunstanton. Lee Corfield moves up to 4th place ahead
of Portuguese Amateur Champion Richard Walker (Frodsham) but
trailing Paul Bradshaw (Gainsborough), Finch and Lupton.
Richard, a member England’s World Class Performance
Programme Elite Squad supported by the Sport England Lottery
Fund was delighted with his victory and commented “This
was a very important win for me right at this moment, it is
always nice to win but to do it at the home of golf is very
special indeed.”
Richard and the rest of the Elite Squad will now look forward
to the next event in the World Class Performance Programme,
the Amateur Championship to be played at Royal Troon 2nd –
7th June. Last year at the Amateur Championship Richard led
the qualifying stages following a staggering round of 61 at
Pyle and Kenfig.
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