Clutch driving on the most famous closing hole in golf lifted Gloucestershire’s Jack Cope to a second massive victory in as many years during an extraordinary conclusion to the St Andrews Old Links Trophy last night.
The 2020 England Amateur champion twice drove the green on the Old Course during a play-off with Northamptonshire international Robin Williams and local favourite George Burns (Williamwood). The sudden death title decider lasted four holes – twice up the first and last.
Both Jack and Robin birdied the 18th first time with George having dropped out but after the Peterborough Milton player failed to get up and down from close to the out of bounds line up the right, his opponent had two putts from 20 feet for a stunning success. The new champion had lost his previous four major competition play-offs, including last month’s Gloucestershire County Championship.
“I was committed to every shot out there that I hit over those four holes,” said the 22-year-old who is a member of The Players Club. “I probably played the best golf tee to green I played all week over those four holes so I guess that was a nice time to really peak.
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“I love the Home of Golf. I was at university in Scotland for two years and I have played round all the courses. I particularly like the Old Course, mainly because I score alright round there.
“It is quite a special walking over that bridge (Swilken Bridge) and taking photos and thinking who’s won here and played here. This is very, very special to me.”
Jack came from five back on a remarkable final afternoon when ten players battled it out for the prize and in the final reckoning were separated by just two shots.
Yorkshire’s Charlie Thornton (Fulford) led by one going into the final round of the 72-hole strokeplay competition which has been previously won by Justin Rose, Ollie Fisher and Matthew Southgate.
The White Rose ace closed with a one over par 73 to miss out on the play-off by one while the soon-to-be champion went bogey free in compiling a brilliant 67, birdieing the last. That was something he would do a total of four times yesterday – twice in the play-off and twice in normal play.