The Lytham Trophy was won for the seventh time in a row by an Englishman, as England Men’s player Hopkins continued his superb start to the year at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.
The Belton Park golfer shot a final-round of -4 to set up a three-way play-off with Welsh duo Tomi Bowen and James Ashfield. The 24-year-old held his nerve to win in the three-hole play-off as he made a birdie on the 2nd after hitting a 185-yard approach to five feet for birdie.
After the four days of action, Lincolnshire’s Hopkins said: “I had a very shaky third round. I had to dig deep just to shoot 3-over. I sat with a sandwich and just told myself to go back to the basics of breathing, routine and rhythm. I reminded myself that Royal Lytham isn’t a golf course you can take on. I said: “Stay patient and let the opportunities come to you.”
“I hit a three-wood to eight feet (on the 7th) and that’s when I knew I was playing well. As I walked to the 11th green, I saw a leaderboard and suddenly I knew I had a chance.”
With four top-10s already this year, including 3rd at the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande, Spain, he added: “I had a chance to win in Spain, it just didn’t work out but I learned a big lesson. You’ve got to get used to those feelings and understand how you react. I’m very proud that when I had another chance, I took it.”
English players Jamie van Wyk (Royal Lytham & St Annes), Daniel Hayes (Bramhall), Ben Bolton (Enville) and Zach Chegwidden (Orsett) all finished in the top-10. View the final leaderboard here.
Elsewhere, Nellie Ong (Eaton, Norwich) finally got her just rewards at the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club on Sunday, following runners-up finishes at both the Scottish Girls’ Championship and the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship in recent weeks.
She fired a blip-free -7, including seven birdies on the third and final day, to finish on 11-under, four shots ahead of 2nd place. Fellow Englishwomen Lauren Crump (Hill Valley), Jessica Hall (Bishop Auckland), Ella Butteriss (Beaconsfield) and Amy Staveley finished 4th, 5th, tied-6th and 10th respectively.
Ong, who was back to school on Bank Holiday Monday, said: "I've had three 2nd-placed finishes in national events so it was a massive relief to win one. I had high expectations but I wasn't expecting to win. I played a bit better than I had the previous weeks. I was two shots back of the lead going into the final round and then two ahead around the turn, and I was thinking I needed to get to -10 because in past tournaments I'd thought about who was behind me and it hadn't worked.
"I was relieved when I got the drive away on the 18th as it's quite a tight hole and once that was away it was a bit nicer! I knew I had a bit of a comfort zone but I wanted to make sure I made par in case something happened elsewhere. My dad was caddying for me so that was nice and some of my England coaches and friends stayed around at the end which was nice too.
It was back to school on Monday and it was nice to be congratulated there (at Culford School). I have my A-levels over the next couple of months so I'll be having a bit of a break before the British Amateur in Ireland."
England players’ results also saw England take home the Nations Cup from the competition. View the final leaderboard here.
Fairhaven Trophy – Sadie Adams
At the Fairhaven Trophy girls’ event, Sadie Adams (Royal Birkdale) battled brilliantly to shoot level-par over the course of four rounds at Fairhaven Golf Club to finish one shot ahead of fellow England player Ellie Lichtenhein (Buckinghamshire). Chloe Tarbard (Royal Norwich) finished in 3rd place.
Adams said: "I knew it was tight heading into the final round and I was thinking to try and go low again after my -4 in the morning. I was 3-under through eight but bogeyed six of the next eight holes!"
However, she kept her composure to birdie the final two holes and added: "I just kept telling myself that I was hitting it well and if I could birdie a couple of holes I'd have a chance. I birdied the 18th and after putting my score in, I headed to the practice green expecting a play-off, but someone came over to tell me I'd won and it was quite a shock.
"I really needed a win and, this early in the season, it certainly helps my confidence and shows that I can do it. My parents were there to celebrate with me - my mum was crying! We ended up just coming home for a quiet night as it was a long weekend!"
In the boys’ event, Jake Potter (Chelsfield Lakes) finished 3rd while Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley) and Oscar Lent (Walton Heath) finished tied-4th.
The CJ CUP Byron Nelson – Kris Kim
It was a week to remember for 16-year-old England player Kris Kim, who made history at the PGA Tour.
At The CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, Kim became the youngest player to make the cut on the PGA Tour for 11 years, the fifth youngest ever to make the cut on the tour, and the youngest European to ever make the cut on the PGA Tour.
Click here to check out the moment he came so close to a hole-in-one on debut.
Overall, Kim shot -6 across his four days of action following rounds of 68, 67, 70 and 73, finishing above the likes of seasoned pros such as Jordan Spieth, Ryan Fox, Cameron Champ, Thorbjorn Olesen, Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre! View the final leaderboard here.
He said: "It's been a bit of a blur, everyone's been so supportive and it's been great. I feel like I did well to make the cut but slightly underdid it at the weekend but I'm happy with how I played. Playing in front of the fans has been really good and makes me want to come back even more. I feel very proud especially considering the work I've done over the winter and throughout my life, I feel like it's paying off. I've definitely got to work on my stamina. I've got to watch what I eat and train better, and eat more on the course."