SMITH BIRDIE ENDS WOLSTENHOLME'S HOPES
 The
English Amateur Championship continues to be a tournament
too far for Gary Wolstenholme. The Walker Cup veteran is still
seeking the title after making an early exit on the opening
day at Burnham & Berrow yesterday.
Just four days after he added the South of England Championship
to his long list of successes, Wolstenholme (pictured left
- photo courtesy of Tom Ward) was beaten by James Smith’s
birdie-three at the first extra hole.
Such an outcome hardly seemed likely when 45-year-old Wolstenholme
won the first two holes and only a miraculous recovery by
Smith on the third prevented him from going further in front.
However, Smith, 24 years Wolstenholme’s junior, eagled
the fourth to pull one back and eventually got on terms.
At the 200-yard 17th, Wolstenholme holed a downhill 12-footer
to stay level and they halved the 18th to go into extra time.
The end came at the 380-yard first when Smith fired a superb
second to ten feet and holed for birdie after Wolstenholme
had missed from 15 feet.
“I’m a bit surprised because I started so poorly,”
said Smith. “I was lucky not to be three down after
three but I came back well and I holed a lot of putts over
the last six or seven holes. I’m very happy because
it is impressive the way Gary plays and it is good to beat
someone of his stamp.”
Reflecting on his defeat, Wolstenholme said: “James
putted very well and it was a good match but it is gutting
to lose as I wanted a good run at the title this year.”
Wolstenholme’s Leicestershire colleague Neil Chaudhuri
produced one of the best comebacks of the day to book his
place in the second round. The England A squad player was
four down through ten holes against Daniel Coughlan of Wyke
Green but won the 11th and 12th with pars to halve the deficit
while further pars at the 15th, 16th, and 17th was good enough
to see him through.
Despite a late flight back from Berlin on Sunday night, having
only six hours sleep and taking an early morning drive for
an 11.16am tee time, Jamie Moul had little trouble in getting
past Mark Thistleton. Moul, the England international from
Suffolk, had finished runner-up in the German Amateur Championship
but the effort getting to Burnham seemed to take its toll
when he lost the opening hole. But the 21 year old is made
of stern stuff and he bounced back to win 4 and 3, being around
four under.
Paul Waring began the defence of his title with a solid 3
and 2 victory over Curtis Dean from Fleetwood. "I played
solid over the front nine and when we turned into the wind
on the back nine I managed to stay controlled," said
Waring. "I also managed to hole key putts, some around
eight feet for birdie at times."
Did he feel under pressure defending the title? "I had
a few goosebumps on the first tee when I was announced as
defending champion but it was also a nice feeling."
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