Sam & Sam show

Tiger Woods style of front running was needed for China Fleet GC’s Sam Church to lift his first title in Andalucia, and he did just that in a dramatic manner.

In a week when he celebrated his 16^th birthday, Sam kept his nerves and his nose ahead of Sam Lemon from Farnham GC. Jonathan Hewett, the overnight joint leader quickly fell away when his putter let him down all day.

Sam Church took a one shot lead after birdieing the treacherous long par-5 third and after exchanging birdies and pars with Lemon over the next 12 holes, Church birdied the 16^th to move two ahead with two holes to play. Both parred the short 17^th.

The final hole has proved a card-wrecker in so many major tournaments at Finca Cortesin in the past, so Church needed a good straight drive but pulled it left into the bunker on the left side of the dogleg fairway. Door was open for Sam Lemon. A magnificent drive split the fairway 50 yards past Church’s. Cornish Sam came out of the bunker but found the greenside bunker with his third. Lemon just missed the green with his second, the ball running into the right hand side bunker and when he failed to get up and down from the sand, Church knew he had two putts for the title. He only took one.

A lot of high emotions, kissing and hugging followed as the champion discovered that another Sam, Sammie Giles, also from the West Country had triumphed in the girls’ section.

Not only both Sam Church and Sammie Giles are from Cornwall but live in the same town, Saltash, and went to the same primary school (Saltash.net Community School).They grew up, played and practise together and some 1800 miles away from home they lifted the prestigious titles in blazing warm Andalucia sunshine.

Sammie Giles’s victory was impressive. She also led from the front and her 78 secured her a back-to-back seven shots victory over her playing partner, St. Ives GC’s Amy Rae who waited all week for an opportunity to overtake Sammie to no avail.

The most impressive score of the day, and the week, was a majestic four under par 68 by Yorkshire’s England international Bradley Hudson but being seven shots behind going into the final round, victory was too much to ask but did secure joint second with Sam Lemon.

There was unanimous praise for the very high quality of both the Alcaidesa Links Resort courses as well as the heavenly Finca Cortesin. Last Monday’s monsoon only helped to make the courses even better for our youngsters!

Shot of the week must go to Boldon GC’s Rhys Thompson who holed from 100 yards for an eagle three on the 8^th to draw level with the leaders but in only proved a flash in the pan!

The final placing:

GIRLS:

230    Sammie Giles

237    Amy Rae

247    Rhiannon Thomas

250    Victoria Wakeley-Jones

BOYS:

220    Sam Church

222    Sam Lemon

            Bradley Hudson

231    Jonathan Hewett

            Michael Dewsbury

            James Rooney

236    Michael Downey

            Gary Foley

237    Rhys Thompson

238    Dean Homewood

240    Fraser Dawson

            Niall Hutton

241    Jake Clorley

242    Nicholas Booth

244    William Bado

            Jack Reekie

            Josh Taylor

246    Rory Stewart

249    Scott Finlay

            Lewis Clarke

252    Toby Purvis

259    Bradley Barnes