LONGCAKE DEFENDS LOGAN TROPHY
Cumbria’s John Longcake, who surprised himself by winning
the title a year ago, will defend the 54-hole English Men’s
Open Mid-Amateur Championship for the Logan Trophy at Fairhaven
Golf Club, Lancashire, on 20th - 22nd August.
The greenkeeper from Silloth-on-Solway carded a closing 70
for 213, three over par, at Royal Birkdale last August, finishing
a shot ahead of Bedfordshire’s John Kemp and two clear
of Scot, Sandy Twynholm.
"I wasn’t expecting this," said Longcake
at the time. "I just wanted to do well and perhaps finish
in the top ten. I can’t believe it."
Longcake will face another strong field this year that again
includes Kemp, who has won the British Mid-Amateur three times.
Several more former winners will also be in action, including
Francois Illouz from France and Suffolk’s Stephen Crosby,
the joint holders at Prince‘s in 2002, Robert Godley
(Hillside) and Barry Downing (Hallamshire).
Illouz, the multi-capped French international and a former
European Mid-Amateur champion, is a frequent contender, while
Crosby, the Gorleston publican, comes to Fairhaven having
done the double of the Suffolk Championship and the Suffolk
Match Play this season.
Godley won the Logan at Southport & Ainsdale in 1993,
while Downing triumphed in 2000 at Ponteland.
Kemp, 36, from the John O’Gaunt club, marked his initial
Logan appearance last year by finishing runner-up, a prelude
to making his England debut in the Home Internationals at
Ballybunion.
The quality of this year’s field is further underlined
by the presence of former British and English Seniors champion
David Lane (Goring & Streatley) and ex-England international
Roger Roper (Catterick).
Other notable competitors are Iain Mackenzie (Hallamshire),
brother of European Tour professional Malcolm Mackenzie, Ian
Barker (Burhill), the current Surrey captain, Stewart King,
the secretary at West Lancashire Golf Club, and Roger Smithies
(Manchester), a stalwart of Lancashire golf and a semi-finalist
in the English Amateur six years ago.
Although this year’s field has been extended from 120
to 132, there was a total entry of 182. Those with handicaps
of four or more were balloted out, while there are five players
with handicaps of plus two, Illouz, Kemp, Stephen Brennan
(Wheatley), Paul Griffith (Sandwell Park), and Steve Sansome
(Birstall).
Play starts at 7.30am on 20th August and there will be a
cut after 36 holes, the leading 45 players and ties going
forward to the final 18 holes.
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