NOW BOYD SHOOTS 64 TO LEAD QUALIFIERS
 Just
24 hours after Shane Winstone set the record with 64 at Royal
Cinque Ports, Gary Boyd, (Picture © Tom Ward) matched
it with 64 of his own to top the qualifiers in the English
Amateur Championship.
Boyd’s eight under par score followed his fine 70 at
Royal St George’s and ensures his position as number
one seed for the match play stages that start at Sandwich
on Wednesday morning.
He is four strokes clear of second-placed Winstone, who found
Royal St George’s a tougher proposition with a 74 for
138.
Boyd was an early starter at 8.20am at Deal and benefited
from calm, early morning conditions. But he still had to post
a score and put it all down to his improved swing,
“I’ve been working on it all year with Tim Rouse
at Northants County and my swing feels a lot better,”
he said modestly. “ I’ve had a few poor weeks
but overall it’s been a consistent year when I’ve
only missed one cut.”
The 20 year old international was out in 30 thanks to six
successive birdies from the third and although he dropped
a shot with a five at the 12th, he reeled off three more at
the 15th, 16th and 17th.
“It’s my best tournament round,” he added.
“I don’t think I could have dreamt of a 64 but
you get days like this when everything seems to go right.
I had a lot more chances so I could have broken 60.”
Boyd has a fine record in the English, having reached the
quarter finals for the past two years. He also did well in
last year’s Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s
before losing to Spanish ace Pablo Martin at the 20th hole
in the last 32.
While Boyd was buoyant after his 64, Winstone found matters
a whole lot different at Royal St George’s but he was
happy with his 74.
“I didn’t hit the ball as well as yesterday but
this course is a lot tougher,” said the lad from Bristol.
“I chipped and putted well but the breeze got up on
the back nine and made it even trickier.”
International David Horsey shot 68 at Cinque Ports for 136,
while Ben Evans, 73 at St George’s, qualified fourth
on 139
A stroke further back were Adam Wainwright from Lincolnshire
and Leicestershire’s Neil Chaudhuri after both shot
70 while International Jamie Moul carded 72 at Royal St George’s
to qualify on 141 alongside Neil Harris from Manchester who
had 72 and Hertfordshire’s Tom Shadbolt 71, both at
Cinque Ports.
Also on 141, after 72 at St George’s, is Daniel Willett,
the player many believe is a real danger after his exploits
in America and an impressive ten stroke victory in last week’s
South of England Stroke Play at Walton Heath.
“I didn’t play that well but I’ll take
72 round here,” said the 19 year old from Rotherham
who must have caught the eye of the Walker Cup selectors.
“I’ve had a good year,” he added. “I’ve
won twice in America this year and last week’s big win
has showed me what I’m capable of.”
A total of 75 players on 149 or better qualified for tomorrow’s
match play. One notable exception is 2005 champion Paul Waring
whose best-of-the-day 69 at St George’s left him on
151.
“This championship has come a week too soon for me,”
he said. “I needed a week off after playing in the Open
Championship and although I came back in 32 today I never
expected a lot this week.”
|
