Matt finish secures Brabazon spot
Matt Strudwick has qualified to play in the prestigious Brabazon Trophy
NORFOLK’S Matt Strudwick has qualified for next week’s Brabazon Trophy – the flagship event for England Golf.
Strudwick, who is the deputy course manager at Swaffham Golf Club, last tried to play his way into the tournament when he was a teenager.
Now 31, he has fulfilled his ambition after a superb performance at Burton-on-Trent Golf Club where he qualified in tied-third place from the 111-strong field.
Strudwick shot a one-under-round of 70 to earn his spot in the 72-hole Brabazon Trophy, which will be staged from May 22-25 at Hankley Common Golf Club in Surrey.
The tournament, also recognised as the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, has been won in the past by a list of star names including Sandy Lyle and Charl Schwartzel.
Strudwick said: ““It will be the biggest competition I’ve ever played in. I’m just going to do my best – I can’t really do anymore.
“I can’t wait to play Hankley, I’ve always wanted to play it. I’m going to have a practice round on the Wednesday.”
Practice made perfect for Strudwick at Burton-on-Trent as he devised a successful strategy to deploy during the tournament.
On several par-4s, he opted for mid-irons to help plot his way around the course – and it paid off.
Strudwick said: “I just played sensibly all the way and scored quite well. I didn’t put myself in any difficult spots at all, luckily.”
A flurry of first-tee nerves meant that the Dereham Golf Club member’s round began with a bogey, but he bounced back with a superb iron shot to set up birdie at the fourth hole.
He drained “a huge putt” on the ninth green to dip under-par and traded two birdies for a pair of bogies on the inward nine.
His excellent efforts left him comfortably inside the qualification cut-line and fellow Norfolk golfer Ben Willis (Hunstanton) was also among the 17 golfers to make it through to Hankley Common. Willis shot a two-over-par 73 to secure 15th place.