SIXTH TIME LUCKY FOR FAULTLESS KEMP
 John
Kemp carded a closing faultless 68 for 140 to win the English
County Champions Tournament at the sixth time of asking over
the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa (picture © Tom Ward).
The former England international finished two strokes ahead
of Cambridgeshire Champion Shaun Malone and four ahead of
John Macklen from Kent. It was the first time a Bedfordshire
golfer has won the title and ended a below par season for
Kemp on a high note.
“It’s nice to end the season with a win,”
said Kemp. “It’s been a pretty mediocre season
for me and this was my sixth attempt to win this.”
Kemp was two strokes behind Malone after the morning round
but he soon made up the deficit by going out in 33 with birdies
at the third, sixth and seventh holes. That put him on four
under and with Malone, from Australia, signing for 72 and
a four under par target, the stage was set for a grandstand
finish.
Kemp got his nose in front with another birdie at the 14th
and he came to the par five 18th knowing that a par would
be enough to see him home.
But the drama wasn’t over. A solid drive left him in
good shape but his three-wood second crashed against the hole’s
famous oak and rebounded 60 yards back towards Kemp. Nevertheless,
he took the three wood again and fired his third shot to three
feet and holed out for his fifth birdie and a famous victory.
“I’ve been so busy at work that I didn’t
have a practise round,” added Kemp. “I just pitched
up this morning and didn’t rate my chances. But I love
this course and know it well. I won the Midland Amateur around
here and as a straight hitter it suits me well. That’s
my season over now. The clubs will go back into the garage
when I get home and they won’t come out again until
February. I’m off to Germany tomorrow on business.”
Kemp’s win was a disappointment for Malone who is here
from his home in Perth, Western Australia, seeking to boost
his game before turning professional.
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