Luke Harries had a slow start in the Tucker Trophy at the weekend but certainly didn’t finish that way as he claimed the illustrious Open title after a brilliant three-way battle in South Wales.
The first two rounds of the 72-hole strokeplay contest are played at Whitchurch before the action switches to Newport and the Tenby player started with a 73 to leave himself five shots off the early pace.
But a stunning start to his second round – he was five under for his first nine holes – got himself back in the contest and he carried that momentum into the second half of the event before sealing victory by one shot with three birdies in his final four holes.
The former Welsh Youths champion, who has just graduated from Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, had a big rethink at lunch on day one.
“I just decided be a lot more aggressive in the afternoon and decided to hit a lot more drivers,” said the 21-year-old plus five handicapper.
“It really worked out as my wedges got hot. All my birdie putts in the second round were from inside ten feet.”
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Luke’s afternoon 66 (-5) meant he closed day one two back of Neath’s Craig Melding, who has just returned to the amateur ranks, with four others a further shot adrfift on two under.
The following morning the field moved to Newport and the Tenby player registered another five under score to give himself a two-shot advantage over Melding and Burnham & Berrow’s Ollie Brimfield, who matched the leader’s morning 67.
The three leading lights all had their chances after lunch but a bogey at 13 left Luke even par for the round and opened the door for his challengers.
However it was firmly shut as he holed a 15-footer up the hill at 15 for a critical birdie and suddenly he was back on the attack. His approach at 17 was close to going in and on the par five 18th, two fine approach shots left him with two putts for a four and he made no mistake to seal the win ahead of Brimfield, whose closing 68 was the joint best score in the final round.
With the Welsh Amateur Championship due at the end of the month, Luke is hoping for strong showing and a place in the Wales team for the home internationals.