Walton Heath Trophy masterclass from Enville player
In what turned into a highly emotional experience for James Claridge, the Staffordshire teenager put in a near flawless performance on the final day to carry off the Walton Heath Trophy.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The death of his dad’s best friend (and Godfather) in Spring hit him in hard and, since then, his performances have not met pre-season expectations.
However, after a two-week break away from competition following the British Amateur – he failed to qualify for the knock-out stages – the Enville player has gone through the gears and came close at the Tillman Trophy last week (he finished in a tie for third).
He then carried that form into this week and bogeyed just one of his final 36 holes yesterday on his way to a four-shot success. Runner-up Liam Gobin (Sandiway) was a further three shots clear of a group of three players on four under.
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Claridge broke down after holing his final putt last night and his father Andy was there to console his son on the 18th green.
“Last week I told my dad that all these performances were for Phil,” said the 19-year-old, who joins a list of former winners which includes Danny Willett, Jack Senior and Gary Wolstenholme.
“And that he was with me for every swing yesterday so when I knocked it in at the last all the emotion came out.”
The new champion hit 62 of 72 greens and his one big mistake on the final day came in the morning at the sixth where he three putted. Contrast to last year’s event where he had 22 three-putts in finishing 40th.
Claridge added: “Last year was painful but I’ve justgot a lot better. I have won twice this year but it could have been four or five times.
“After the British Amateur I really knuckled down for two weeks and let that momentum from practice carry into what has happened recently.
“Across all four days it has been borderline perfect, especially tee to green. Even when I shot 73 in the second round, I hit the ball well. I just literally holed nothing.”
If the new champion was feeling emotional during the final 36 he didn’t show it as he steadily stretched away from the field. The 41 players who made the cut to play the final 36 had been separated by just eight shots with Claridge, Harvey Byers (Walton Heath) and Harrison Arnold (Castle Royle) leading the way on four under.
However after yesterday’s morning third round on the New course, Claridge was three shots clear.
And then, in the afternoon, he made the perfect start by birdieing the first thanks to a stunning five iron to ten feet.
Behind him there was plenty of movement and Gobin quickly emerged as his main challenger. The Cheshire county player reached the turn on the Old course in 31.
A critical up and down at five, after Claridge shortsided himself with his approach, kept him on the right track but with two holes to go his lead was down to two. That despite being three under for his round.
However he then watched from the tee as Gobin doubled the par three 17th and he was able to enjoy the final two holes to give himself the perfect springboard for next week’s English Amateur.