Mark Stockdale made light of his disappointment at just missing out on entry to The Lytham Trophy to canter to victory in the West of England Amateur Stroke Play at Royal North Devon.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The Northamptonshire-based teenager has enjoyed an excellent start to the season and reached the last eight of South African Amateur in February.
Yesterday he enjoyed an excellent battle with Warwickshire’s Alexander Ford but asserted control around the turn in the final round and eventually registered an eight-shot victory.
“When I didn’t get into The Lytham Trophy I knew there was good opportunity in the West of England Open and I was really pleased with how it went,” said the 19-year-old, who is one of a number of English players taking part in The Irish Amateur Open later this month (May 10-14).
“There are a few holes that really suit my eye at Royal North Devon and we got quite lucky with conditions. When it is relatively calm you can get after it a bit. I took an aggressive approach and it paid off with a few birdies.”
Across all four rounds Stockdale, who was the 2021 Midland champion, amassed 22 birdies and an eagle as he finished on 11 under. Only he and Ford were under par for the tournament.
The Woburn member started the final round with a two-shot lead over Ford while the experienced Rory Browne (Feldon Valley) was a further two shots back in third. However the BB&O player never got going in the fourth round and closed with a birdie-free 75.
In contrast the final group shared eight birdies on the front nine, Stockdale recovering well after an opening six. With 11 holes left his lead had been halved.
“It did take on a matchplay feel,” added the teenager. “But my birdie on nine was a big moment. It is not a birdie hole and holing out from 25 feet was definitely a nice little bonus.”
Stockdale’s superb three on the ninth – he hit drive and two iron to the edge of the green before sinking the long putt – meant he was now three clear after Ford had also bogeyed the eighth following an unfortunate three-putt.
Both players then found the fairway bunker on the tenth and had to hack out for their second. Ford compounded the mistake by getting too aggressive with his par putt and he also missed the one coming back. Stockdale bogeyed it to extend his advantage by a further shot.
The leader kept his foot to the floor with unanswered birdies at 11 and 13 to go six ahead and it got worse for the Warwickshire player as he bogeyed 14. From then on his playing partner coasted in, hitting the last four greens in regulation while Ford also bogeyed 17.
Both men finished with a birdie, the champion elect, sending his wedge to 15 feet and he rolled in the putt for a closing 67 (-5). Hanbury Manor’s Adam Tridgell grabbed third thanks to a final-round 71.
In the morning Stockdale held on to his halfway lead despite an out-of-character 74, which included a six at the par three fifth.