Chelmsford golfer James Allan produced a scintillating display of golf and shot a new course-record 67 to win the prestigious Brabazon Trophy Southern Qualifier in impressive fashion at Effingham Golf Club.
Allan’s record-breaking performance included seven birdies as the plus-two handicapper finished on four-under-par, two strokes clear of the elite field of 132 of the top up-and-coming amateurs at the historic Surrey venue.
The 19-year-old headed a list of 30 players who qualified to contest The Brabazon Trophy – the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship – at Seaton Carew Golf Club from June 25-28 next month, with the event ending in dramatic fashion with eight players competing in a sudden-death play-off for the final seven places.
Allan made the perfect start to his round on the 6,800-yard layout with birdies at the first two holes and reached the turn in two-under-par, with a birdie at the short seventh making amends for dropping a shot at the difficult par-four fifth hole.
The Essex star looked set to return an even lower score as he added four further birdies on the back nine but bogeys at two of the final three holes meant he was forced to settle for a 67.
His score is the lowest at Effingham since the club made significant changes to its course including re-designing its 18th hole, with the previous record of 63 on the old layout set by AC Locke in 1959 and Surrey star Curtis Griffiths in 2009.
But while Allan was celebrating his record-breaking feat in the clubhouse, eight players headed back out onto to the course in the fading daylight to contest a nail-biting three-hole play-off to decide the final seven qualifiers – including top Yorkshire amateur Craig Smith.
Smith, who is a member at Pike Hills GC in York, was among the early starters and had to endure an anxious wait lasting several hours to know his fate, but his patience was rewarded as he claimed one of the last places remaining to make his 450-mile round trip worthwhile.
Toby Thorne, championship manager for England Golf, said: “Effingham Golf Club proved to be the perfect venue for the Brabazon Trophy Southern Qualifier. The golf course was an ideal test for the competitors and as a result, we found 30 worthy qualifiers.
“The player feedback we received was excellent, with all of them praising the preparation of the course and the subtlety of the greens. The clubhouse and catering facilities were also first class.
“In planning and delivering the tournament, every member of staff at Effingham could not have been more helpful and focused on providing us with a five-star service. England Golf looks forward to returning here again in the near future.”
Effingham’s renowned championship course was designed by legendary golf architect Harry Colt in the 1920s and has held numerous high-profile events since, including hosting regional qualifying for The Open Championship from 2006 to 2010.
Set in 264 acres of picturesque Surrey countryside near Guildford, the par-71 classic layout features two very separate loops of nine, with the recent changes made to the course opening last May.
Steve Slinger, Effingham Golf Club’s general manager, said: “It was a great honour to stage southern qualifying for such an esteemed tournament as the Brabazon Trophy which provided a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase what the club has to offer.
“The course was in great condition and looked fabulous, with lightning-fast greens providing a real test for the competitors, and it was an outstanding performance by James Allan to mark the event with a course record.”
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