Lancashire Amateur Champion

Champion Sean's towering performance  by David Birtill

It was not difficult to spot Sean Towndrow as he strode down the fairways and among the sand dunes at Hesketh in the Lancashire Amateur Championship.

The strapping 6ft 6ins player from nearby Southport and Ainsdale was walking even taller after capturing the coveted title over a course where the inaugural tournament was staged 100 years earlier.

 And George Frederick Smith, the first winner and a member of the host club, would have been proud to have seen the name of a local lad etched alongside his on the silver cup.

He would also have admired the way he plotted his way round the links as he compiled an impressive nine-under-par total, prevailing by two strokes from 2006 champion John Carroll, from Huyton & Prescot, who birdied the final two holes in a 68 after mounting a late charge.

 Towndrow, 19, who one day hopes to emulate his boss and coach Jim Payne, for whom he helps in the shop at Southport and Ainsdale, and become a professional.

"That's some time off yet," said the former King George V College student whose previous best result was reaching the quarter-finals of the British Boys' Championship last year.

"I've not played in any big events such as the Lytham Trophy but I've qualified for the Brabazon Trophy at Royal Liverpool this month and I plan to give my game a big push next season and enter as many of the tournaments as possible."

Towndrow pulled out his driver only three times during each of the four rounds as he opened with a steady 72 then reeled off three 69s.

"I hit a three iron off most tees to keep out of trouble which you can soon find around here," explained the plus one player.

The defining hole in the last round was the 513-yard par five seventh where he pitched in from 50 yards for an eagle. He added three birdies, including one at the last, as he kept the chasing pack at arm's length.

Tom Stuart, from St Annes Old Links, stayed in his rear view mirror before falling back into fourth place as Carroll picked up the gauntlet.

Michael Hearn, from Chorley, overcame a quadruple bogey at the third with a run of seven birdies, five on the inward stretch, to finish third after a 68.

James Wilson, a member of the Formby side which won the Club Championship for the first time since 1961 and taking their total to eighth, won the J Rayner Batty Trophy for the best gross score over the two qualifying rounds.

Lee Mayers, from Fairhaven, was presented with the Arthur Wright Trophy for the top nett return.

 Picture courtesy of Derek Holden.

Return to News Page

Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.