Alfie Plant - European Champion
Last year the European Amateur was decided in a seven hole playoff, this year it only took five extra holes for Sundridge Park's Alfie Plant to claim the title.
Click here to watch the swing of a champion.
In the playoff at the Old Course at Walton Heath Golf Club Plant was eventually able to outlast Lorenzo Scalise and defending champion Luca Cianchetti. The trio first played three holes of aggregate score golf after which Cianchetti was eliminated.
After the defending champion fell out of the running, Plant and Scalise moved onto sudden death golf with Plant winning with a birdie on the second win or go home hole.
Plant, Scalise and Cianchetti all finished the final round at 15-under with Plant at 4-under 68 putting together the round of the day. The 2016 Lytham Trophy winner bogeyed his first hole of the day before carding five birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 8, 14 and 18.
Scalise and Cianchetti began the day tied for the lead and shot 3-under 69's on Saturday. Both Scalise and Cianchetti had a chance to win the title outright but they bogeyed the 18th hole.
The win also qualifies him for the Open at Birkdale in a couple of weeks and moves him back firmly in the minds of selectors for this year's Walker Cup. Congratulations on a simply fantastic result and good luck to you in the next few weeks from everyone at Sundridge Park.
Click here to listen to his first interview as a champion.
Here is Alfie with Todd Hamilton and Bernhard Langer also at The Open and now years later he'll be the other side of the ropes. Don't forget to smile Alfie unlike Bernhard.
East Herts Pro-Am
Sam Jones made a triumphant return to his previous club shooting a sparkling 66 (-5) to finish T1 in the East Herts Pro-Am. The round consisted of 5 birdies and an eagle, the eagle was set up by a stunning 3 iron from 251 yards to 6 feet. Drive for show, putt for dough was the motto for the day, 25 putts was the key. Sam will next tee it up at the Foremost Assistants Championship on the 12th of July alongside JD Lombard. We wish them all the best.
Guest Day
32 teams had some beautiful weather for Guest Day last Friday, with Stephen Endersby and his guest John Lyman taking top spot on countback, the full results are below.
1st - Stephen Endersby (16) & John Lyman (9) - 43
2nd - David Spooner (5) & David Wakeling (5) - 43
3rd - Jon Philp (12) & Nick Philp (4) - 42
Lady Captain's Day
Christine Ross celebrated her year in office with her Captain's Day on Sunday & Tuesday with a big field of 49 ladies supporting her on two beautiful day's weather wise. Bassey Dunbar took top spot with 35pts with Vicky Ely pipping Ingrid Long to the runner-up spot on countback both having shot 34pts.
Toast to the Happy Couple
Our very own John Macklen married Clare Reeves on Saturday afternoon, they do make a lovely couple and seem blissfully happy together.
A great day was had by all who attended and I know John wanted to pass on his thanks on behalf of Clare & himself for all the interest from those at the club.
Irish Open
Defending champion Rory McIlroy headlines a superb field for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart GC in County Londonderry this week. Rory McIlroy defends the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this week but the home favourite will face strong competition from a field that includes Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose.
McIlroy's "Rory Foundation" will host the event for a third season and a percentage of all ticket sales this week will go to help children who are unwell or unfairly disadvantaged.
It may be the first time that Portstewart GC has hosted the Irish Open but the club has hosted many significant events over the years. Recently, the Irish Ladies Amateur was held at Portstewart in 2010 with Mary Dowling victorious. In 2014, The Amateur Championship was held at Portstewart and Portrush - Bradley Neil of Scotland was the winner.
The course at Portstewart is set in an expansive area of striking dune land. The layout will offer the players a chance to practice their links golf in preparation for The Open Championship at Birkdale in two week's time. In fact, this event is the first of three in a row to be held on links courses on the European Tour; the Scottish Open is at Dundonald Links next week.
The Irish Open was first contested in 1927 and has produced some famous winners over the years. Bobby Locke, Bernard Gallacher, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernard Langer and Colin Montgomerie have all been champions. In last year's event at the K Club, Rory McIlroy came out on top after a stunning shot to the final hole. From 250 yards, he hit an incredible approach to within feet of the hole, setting up an eagle three. The stroke was named European Tour shot of the year later in the season.
This is the third event of the inaugural Rolex Series on the European Tour and, as such, it carries a significant purse - $7,000,000.
Player Watch:
Justin Rose - He's playing on the European Tour for the first time since the US Open but he's currently seventh on the Race to Dubai standings thanks to his second place finish at The Masters. He's won before on the links - The Scottish Open of 2013 and he'll be looking to put in a strong showing with The Open Championship just two weeks away.
Thomas Pieters - The talented Belgian has been enjoying a solid season and it's about time he stepped up to claim a victory. He was tied 13th last week in France.
Thorbjorn Olesen - He's on great form right now. He was tied fourth in the Nordea Masters and then tied third last week in France. He's got a good all-round game and should cope well with the conditions in Northern Ireland.
Click here to keep an eye on this week's leaderboard.
