FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
It has been quite a month for Philip White as he added the Somerset Men’s County Championship title to his victory in the Burnham & Berrow Challenge Salver at the start of May.
The 37-year-old won by two shots at Saltford to earn himself county bragging rights for the third time – his previous victories in the event came in in 2016/17 – and he could even afford a double bogey at the last.
Playing alongside his nearest challenger and club-mate Ollie Brimfield, the Burnham & Berrow player did not realise just how big his lead playing the final few holes.
“I didn’t know I was so far ahead,” said White. “In the moment I lost track and thought maybe I had won by one even after what happened at the last.”
Having driven out of bounds on 18 in the morning on his way to an ugly six, White went for two iron in the afternoon but again lost his shot to the right, the ball clipping a tree on its way to being lost. However he regained his composure to make a double bogey six.
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Before that he had played some sparkling stuff and three birdies on the bounce, starting at the 12th got him to five under for the round and the tournament. He has just started using the aim point method under the tutelage of Oli Leett at Tickenham and the putter “has been working really well.”
He lipped out for four in a row at 15 while his nearest challenger bogeyed 16 to effectively end the affair as a contest.
Before lunch the Burnham & Berrow duo both shot 71 to lead at halfway, one clear of home favourite Huxley Howell.
White added: “ I didn’t hit my irons well in the morning and it was my short game that kept me in it.”
At the start of the month the new county champion accumulated a remarkable 16 pars on his way to a countback victory over East Devon’s Leigh Jones in the Salver.
The home-club player went into second and final round four back of the Devon golfer, who had opened with a 68.
However he could only back it up with a 75 while White’s closing level-par 71 – he birdied three and bogeyed ten while the rest were pars – was enough for him to take the illustrious open title.