English Amateur matchplay starts with stunning win for Hertfordshire champion
There was a thrilling comeback success for Hertfordshire champion Max Hopkins as the knockout stages in the English Amateur Championship began at Lindrick today.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 6 rounds of matchplay
The No 5 seed endured a bogey-laden start and was five down after six holes to BB&O’s Ben Loverard (Woburn).
However the 19-year-old from Bishops Stortford, who won his first county title at the end of May, came roaring back into the match around the turn, levelling up matters at the 13th. That included two eagles in three holes.
At the short par four eighth he stuck his drive to four feet and then pitched in for another two at the 10th.
Hopkins then went one up with a birdie at the par four 16th, missed a six footer at 17 to win it but got the job done at the 18th to set up a last 32 meeting with New England Boys champion Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield).
“I started as badly as I could, making so many mistakes while Ben didn’t make any,” said Hopkins. “After the eagle on ten I just played steady stuff.”
The Yorkshire player took out England international Olly Huggins (Frilford Heath) with an impressive 3&2 success against the BB&O player.
Shaw-Radford was one of the few early victors to get the job done without the need to play 18.
The first four games out all went to the last and beyond with White Rose team-mates George Mason (With) and George Ash (Hallowes) enjoying a humdinger off a tie that was eventually won by the latter at the third extra hole.
There was never more than one hole in it – both players shot a 67 – and Ash holed one from 12 feet for birdie at the 21st to close things out.
It was also huge day for Middlesex champion Jack Neill as the 20-year-old came from two down at the turn to beat British Boys champion Jack Bigham (No 4 seed).
Neill just made it through the stroke play stages on the cut mark and now tackles Sussex’s Joe Sykes for a place in the last 16.
For all the scores click here.