The adage ‘it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish that’s important’ was once again spectacularly proved by new Dorset county champion Thomas Kollberg, who overcame a terrible front nine to win the senior men’s title for the first time.
The student from Broadstone (pictured left), who attends College in the USA, was facing an early exit having reached the turn in the first round of 36-hole qualifier at Came Down GC eight over but managed four birdies coming home to recover some ground.
His opening 76 (+6) left him in joint 27th with just the top 16 going through to matchplay stages, which he managed to reach by the skin of the his teeth thanks to a 72. That gave him the last spot on 18-hole countback.
Gloucestershire do it again at 2022 South West county qualifier
The 20-year-old was 11 back of clubmate and leading qualifer Lee James, who finished four clear of the pack thanks to a dazzling five-under-par 65. It included seven birdies and set up a last 16 clash with the eventual champion.
However in the matchplay stages Thomas came alive and some dominant wins in the quarters and semis set up a championship-deciding tie with another Broadstone golfer who also only just qualified – Samuel Brooke, winner of the Luffman Cup for finishing as the top U-21 player.
The final was a classic see-saw encounter that started well for Sam. He was 2 up after five but lost the next three before getting back on level terms at the ninth. Tom went ahead at the next before losing it to a birdie at 12th and then regaining it at 13th and critically claimed the 16th to go dormie.
Sam could not win 17 and conceded the match to his clubmate (3&1).