Lincolnshire’s Callum Bruce “wasn’t the biggest fan” of Lindrick ahead of this weekend’s Danny Willett Salver but that view changed considerably after his impressive victory.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The Elsham player was two behind at halfway – the first 36 holes took place at Worksop on Saturday – before the competition switched to the former Ryder Cup venue yesterday. It was the first time the open was played over 72 holes having previously been a two-round affair.
However closing efforts of 67 (-3) and 69 (-1) left him five shots ahead of the rest in the final reckoning. Down the stretch he recorded four birdies in six holes to surge clear and even a double bogey at the 17th failed to make much of a difference.
Bruce said: “I had played it in the English Am last year. It played a little different because of the time of the year and I have to admit I wasn’t the biggest fan.
“But after the two rounds yesterday I’m definitely a bit more of a fan.
“I’ve been playing well all year but not really holing any putts and this weekend a few dropped.”
The 21-year-old, who made the cut at the Lytham Trophy the previous weekend, made a dream start to his third round, registering five threes in his opening seven holes.
His county team-mate Levi Desmond (Sleaford) also made a big move in the morning, eagling the fourth on his way to a four-under 66.
Bruce finished with a 67 to take a two-shot lead over Desmond into the final round but it was the leader’s playing partner Robert Holden (Letchworth), who got himself back into contention in the early stages of the fourth round, birdieing three, four, eight and ten to get himself to three under.
With Bruce failing to register a birdie on the front nine, the rest had a chance but the Elsham player did not panic.
“There was no live scoring but obviously I could see that Robert had got to three under after ten. However I stuck to my gameplan and I holed a few putts to give myself a bit of breathing space.
“Funnily enough I jokingly asked Levi after round three ‘not to do that again’ and thankfully he didn’t.”
Bruce got back to level par for his final round at ten where he stuck his approach shot to a foot and tapped in for his birdie.
At 12 he drained a 30-footer down the hill before getting close to finding the target in two at the short par five 14th before getting up and down to get to eight under for the tournament.
That became nine at the very next where he got within 20 yards of the putting surface with his tee shot and the short game did the rest.
There was a minor wobble at 17 where a thinned bunker shot led to a double bogey but he parred the tough par three closing hole to also ensure he was under par for all four rounds having opened with scores of 71 (-1) and 70 (-2) at Worksop.