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Andalucia Junior European Open in association with the Daily Express

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!

250 Victoria Wakeley-Jones

Offering club golfers of all levels across the UK the opportunity to play competitive matchplay golf

They say golf is like a love affair, if you don’t take it seriously it’s not fun, but if you do take it seriously it will break your heart. In the past 25 years I have had the pleasure of organising some great golf tournaments, most of them matchplay format. I have made many friends through this business and I would do it all again.

I met the likes of Justin Rose and Nick Dougherty back in the 1990s through the Sunday Express Under-14s juniors, although neither of them won it! But my greatest joy has been seeing your average golfer win such events as the Daily Express Matchplay, the Costa del Sol Masters pairs or the Sunday Express Team-of-4 and I witnessed the victors on cloud nine!

The number of golfers who keep coming back again and again, year after year to take part runs into thousands. They all come back to win one of our major titles, some achieve their goal and some don’t but they keep coming back. So we must have got it just about right. There are no gimmicks with our events and we always insist on club handicaps.

In 25 years of organising, promoting and running these events, I have only come across one bandit. I will not mention him by name but he was a 62 year old Scotsman playing off 3!

They say matchplay is kill or be killed, there’s no better way to play competitive golf. Please keep coming back, you are assured of our dedicated service and attention. Here’s to the next 25 years.

Fred Moghadam
Tournament Director
golforganiser@aol.com