Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Nick Day will defend his England Mid-Amateur title when the Logan Trophy is played next week at The Leicestershire Golf Club.
The Over 35s Mid-Am has attracted a full field of players and promises plenty of great golf when is played in the East Midlands, from July 5-7.
Last year Day, from Henbury, produced a command performance, winning by nine-shots at Long Ashton, in his native Gloucestershire.
He has recently won his fifth county championship, warning his rivals that he’s on good form. But he can expect plenty of competition in an event which frequently produces a grandstand finish.
The field includes past winners Stephen Jensen, from Woburn, and Somerset’s Tom Burley, from Burnham & Berrow.
North Hants’ Matt Wilcox – the 2017 British Mid-Amateur Champion – is looking to become second Hampshire winner after Martin Young, Wilcox’s foursomes partner in the county first-team, won the title in 2006 at Hayling.
Wilcox warmed up for next week’s championship by claiming the Justin Rose Mid-Amateur Trophy for the second time in three years at the Fleet club where the 2013 US Open winner was a member as a junior.
Rose famously claimed the McGregor (English U16) and Carris Trophies (U18) in the same season, before becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in the Walker Cup, in 1997.
Rose had just turned 17 and weeks after becoming the first Hampshire player to win the St Andrews Links Trophy before famously finishing in a share of fourth at the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and turning pro the following week.
Rose, who won the Olympic Gold Medal in golf in Rio, in 2016, donated his Mid Am trophy for the Over 35s event in recognition of the strength of the golf played by many weekend golfers, and Hampshire players have dominated since its launch in 2016, with Martin Young the champion in 2016 and 2018.
There’s lots of interest for the host club of the 2019 English Mid-Am, which is fielding four players in Mark Birkenshaw, Mark Scarrett, Alan Martinez and Philip Thomason.
They will have the benefit of local knowledge over the parkland course, with its many trees and fine quality greens.
Until last year, the course had no par fives, but the sixth and ninth holes have been extended with new tees to challenge the players.
The championship is played over 54 holes. All competitors play 36 holes before the field is cut to the top 45 players and ties who qualify for the third day’s play.
For more information, including tee times, click here.
