EDWARDS' VICTORY BRIDGES 12-YEAR GAP
Colin Edwards, proved he is still a force in the game by
winning the English Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship for
the Logan Trophy in style at Minchinhampton 12 years after
his last national triumph.
The 44 year old from Bath, whose appearances in national
events have been restricted by business commitments and a
car accident 18 months ago, rolled back the years to lead
from start to finish.
Edwards carded a closing 70 for 206, seven under par, and
a six-shot winning margin from Cheshire’s Gareth Bradley,
who took the runner-up spot on countback also with 70, and
defending champion Martin Young with 73.
Edwards’ last national title was a share of the Brabazon
Trophy in 1995 but he proved he has lost none of the skills
that brought him 86 England appearances between 1991 and 2003.
“This is unbelievable,” he said after starting
the day three strokes clear of Young. “It is fantastic
to win and means the world to me because it proves I can still
win at national level. At the start of the week I probably
felt I couldn’t win. I was hitting the ball poorly but
the opening 68 was a big boost. I wanted to win more than
anything and in some ways I probably tried too hard.
“But although I had a comfortable lead I could never
relax until the end because II knew how good a player Martin
is," added the man with 12 Somerset titles to his credit.”
>From Young’s point of view, Edwards’ three-stroke
lead going into the final day was a gap too far and he never
managed to claw it back. Playing together at the back of the
field, they both birdied the first but the crucial hole was
the par-four sixth where there was a two-shot swing, Edwards
collecting another birdie while Young took five after missing
the green.
That put Edwards five clear and another Young bogey at the
eighth extended Edwards’ advantage at they reached the
turn in 34 and 37 respectively.
If the contest wasn’t over, it was as good as when
Edwards rolled in another lengthy putt on the short tenth.
He could even afford to run up a couple of back nine bogeys
and still win at a canter.
“That two-shot swing at the sixth was a big moment
and I probably played a bit negatively and left a few shots
out there,” added Edwards. “But I still felt pressure
because I hadn’t been in such a position for such a
long time.”
Young, 37, who arguably was not firing on all cylinders in
the final round, said: “I was pleased with the way I
played and it was a good defence of the title. “I had
a few chances early on and several putts shaved the hole.
If they had gone in it would have given me some impetus.”
If Bradley hadn’t shot 74 in the second round he might
have challenged Edwards but the 44 year old former captain
of Cheshire was happy with his closing 70 for second spot.
John Kemp, another ex-England cap, also finished with 70
including a back nine of 32, for 218 and joint seventh spot
but the week belonged to Edwards, who is hoping to add another
national crown in the County Champions event at Woodhall Spa
next month.
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