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EDWARDS
KONICA CHAMPION
Nigel
Edwards is the 2001 Konica Order of Merit Champion. A Semi-Final spot in the Amateur Championship at Royal
Porthcawl was good enough to secure the prestigious title for the first time. The
new Welsh Champion, Craig Williams pushed Edwards all the way and was a
deserving second well clear of 3rd placed Ian Campbell who was also a
Semi-Finalist at Royal Porthcawl. Lee
Harpin’s runner up spot in the Amateur moved him up to fourth in the final
Konica table with Kyron Sullivan, Matthew Griffiths and David Price making up
the top seven places all of which gain automatic selection for the Welsh side to
play in the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa, 12th-14th
September. Edwards
who makes his Walker Cup debut in the US this week, has been a great example to
younger players in demonstrating what can be achieved with careful time
management, dedication and determination. He
is one of the very few international amateurs who holds down a full-time job
while still managing to compete successfully at the highest level.
Nigel follows his great friend Jamie Donaldson as Konica Order of Merit
Champion.
STUNNING WILLIAMS
Creigiau’s
Craig Williams produced a stunning display of shot making at the St David’s
Gold Cross to win his first Konica Order of Merit title since the 1999 Welsh
Open Stroke Play. Williams
four round total of 273 strokes was the lowest in the history of the event that
was six strokes clear of his nearest rivals David Price (Vale of Glamorgan) and
Stuart Manley (Mountain Ash). Williams
collected 150 Konica points that has moved him to second place in the table
behind Walker Cup player Nigel Edwards. Price
and Manley both gained 75 points apiece and have moved into 5th &
8th places respectively. Only two events remain before the Welsh Team for the Home
Internationals is selected the first being the Tucker Trophy held over the
Whitchurch and Newport courses on 21/22 July 2001.
EDWARDS HAT TRICK
Mathew Griffiths
gained 75 Konica Order of Merit points by qualifying for the final stages of the
Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes moving him from 7th
to 5th place on the table. Nigel Edwards
recorded the lowest ever total at the Tucker Trophy with a 20 under par total of
266 strokes. Edwards finished nine strokes clear of Brynhill’s Kyron Sullivan. Edwards collected
100 Konica points after his third Konica Order of Merit title of the season. The
top places were taken by Edwards, Sullivan, Ian Campbell, Craig Williams, David
Price and the fast improving Stuart Manley. Only
one event remains, the Welsh Amateur Championship at the Royal Porthcawl Golf
Club from 1 – 4 August 2001.
PRICE RISES David Price the Portuguese Amateur Champion collected 100 Konica
Order of Merit points after winning the Carad Trophy at the weekend with a total
of 277 strokes, 1 under par. Price collected the Cardiff Feathers with scores of 67 and 72 at
Cardiff Golf Club while Alex Smith won the Radyr Salver and claimed third place
in the overall event. Stuart Manley from Mountain Ash collected 60 order of merit points
for his second place finish. As a result of Price’s victory he moves from 12th to 8th
place on the order of merit table while Manley climbs 5 places from 15th
to 10th.
WILLIAMS FINDS FORM Despite not winning the Welsh Amateur Open Stroke Play
Championship, Craig Williams finished on 15 under par and collected 100 Konica
Order of Merit points to move from 7th to 5th place on the
table. Jonathon Lupton from Middlesborough won the Championship on 22
under par five strokes clear of Seaton Carew’s Simon Robinson. Ian Campbell (Marlborough) and James Williams (Pontypridd) finished
in a tie for 8th place and collected 50 points each.
As a result of this performance Campbell has moved within 100 points of
the leader Nigel Edwards. The next event is the Carad Trophy that takes place over the
Radyr and Cardiff courses on 7/8th July 2001. SO CLOSE CAMPBELL Ian Campbell narrowly missed out on Amateur Championship glory at
Prestwick over the weekend, losing out to Ireland’s Michael Hoey on the last
green of the 36 final. Campbell had battled his way through qualifying and once again
showed his class with this performance to add to his semi final place two years
ago where he lost out to Graeme Storm of England. Campbell added 240 Konica Order of Merit points
to his tally that moved him from 12th to 2nd place
on the Order of Merit. Kyron Sullivan gained 60 points for his last 16 finish
and Matthew Griffiths claimed 40 points for reaching the last 32 of the
Championship. Lee Harpin defeated Adam Campbell in a sudden death play off for
the Aberconwy title and both players gained 80 Konica points. The next event is the Scottish Stroke Play Championship at
Nairn from 15 - 17 June.
WELSH DISAPPOINTMENT AT ST. ANDREWS Welsh hopes ended in disappointment at the St.Andrews Links Trophy over the weekend. Creigiau’s Richard Brookman after two excellent opening rounds of 70 and 71 slipped to 79 and 78 in rounds 3 and 4 for a total of 298 strokes. Lee Harpin (North Wales) managed to collect 4.66 Konica Order of Merit points for joint 27th place while Nigel Edwards and Craig Williams claimed 2 points each for their joint 31st place finish Scotland’s Steven O’Hara with a total of 281 strokes, six under par won the tournament. The next events are the Amateur Championship at Prestwick from 4 – 9 June and the Aberconwy Trophy on 9/10 June at Conwy and Llandudno (Maesdu).
EDWARDS INCREASES LEAD Nigel Edwards increased his lead at the top of the Konica Order of Merit after finishing in sixth place at the Brabazon Trophy over the weekend. Edwards finished the tournament with a fine, three under par 67. Over the weekend six Welsh players made it through the cut line; Nigel Edwards, Kyron Sullivan, Lee Harpin, David Price, Ian Campbell and Cennydd Mills. During the qualifying stages, Mills lead the way with a fine one under par 69 on a very windy, demanding day. Kyron Sullivan from Byrnhill moved into second place after finishing in a tie for 8th place and collected 53.25 Konica points to move ahead of Matthew Griffiths. Lee Harpin (Llandudno, Maesdu) moved from 8th in the table to 4th place with another consistant performance. The season continues this week with the players travelling to St Andrews for the Links Trophy over the Old and New courses on 26th and 27th May.
CAMPBELL AND DYKES SHARE VICTORY Adam Campbell (Marlborough) and Tim Dykes (Wrexham) were joint winners of the Clwyd Open at the weekend with a total of 292 strokes. On completion of the 72 holes the players were tied and were unable to participate in a play off due to a thunderstorm. Both players share the Konica Order of Merit points that lifts them into 4th and 8th places respectively. This was the first victory of each player in a Konica Order of Merit event. Local players Steve Merrill (295 strokes) and Kingsley Evans (298 strokes) were third and fourth. Meanwhile over at Royal Dublin scene of the Irish Open Stroke Play Craig Williams (12th) and Kyron Sullivan (14th) added to their totals and both players occupy positions in the top 5. The next event is the Brabazon Trophy that is being played at Royal Birkdale from 18th-20th May 2001. EDWARDS MOVES CLEAR Nigel Edwards claimed a share of 6th place at the Lytham Trophy to lead the Konica Order of Merit by over 200 points after just three events. Craig Williams (8th=) and Matthew Griffiths (15th=) both added to their totals after a weekend of excellent golf at the Lytham Trophy. Cennydd Mills from the Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club tied 3rd at the Berkshire Trophy to earn over 50 Konica points and moved himself into 7th place. This was probably the performance of the weekend and it was his first appearance in a "British" event. The next events are the Irish Stroke Play at Royal Dublin from 11th – 13th May 2001 and the Clwyd Open at Wrexham and Prestatyn on 12th & 13th May 2001.
ANOTHER EDWARDS VICTORY Nigel Edwards claimed his second Konica Order of Merit title of the season with a one stroke victory over Kyron Sullivan. At Ashburnham a strong westerly wind caused major problems for all competitors. Gareth Maybin from Ireland claimed the Carmarthenshire Open with two excellent scores of 72 and 74 for a three stroke victory over Haverfordwest’s Richard Scott 73, 76. The Tenby Golden Eagle was played in much fairer conditions and Kyron Sullivan of Brynhill edged home with scores of 70 and 67 from Ian Campbell, 68 and 69. However, it was Edwards consistency that won him the overall title that he adds to the Duncan Putter he won two weeks previously at Southerndown. Despite winning, Edwards admitted to playing poorly, but was saved by some magical chipping and putting. The victory earned Edwards 150 Konica points that has enabled him to extend the lead at the top of the table to 174.5 points over former Welsh Amateur Champion and Konica Order of Merit winner, Matthew Griffiths from Woodlake Park. The next events are the Lytham and Berkshire Trophies, 5th and 6th May at Royal Lytham & St Annes and Berkshire Golf Clubs respectively.
EDWARDS MAKES HIS MOVE Nigel Edwards from Whitchurch leads the Konica Order of Merit table after the first event of the season, the Duncan Putter. Edwards scored rounds of 71 and 69 to claim the title by five strokes in the weather-shortened event. The Great Britain & Ireland squad member won from fellow Welsh Internationals Matthew Griffiths who was a shot clear of Lee Harpin. The strong winds sweeping off the sea made conditions very demanding but Edwards stuck to his task and claimed his first Duncan Putter some 16 years after playing in his first. There were some promising early season performances from the younger players, Craig Smith, Richard Scott and Cennydd Mills all keen to claim a spot in the Wales team for the Home International matches at Woodhall Spa in September. The next event is the Trubshaw Cup, 28th and 29th April at Ashburnham and Tenby golf courses. Dated 16 April 2001
The Konica Order of Merit starts with the traditional season opener, the Duncan Putter at Southerndown during Easter and finishes with the Welsh Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl on Saturday 4 August. The players will travel the length and breadth of Britain in search of claiming the title. The main title candidates will come from last year's Home International team with the five players included in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad (Ian Campbell, Nigel Edwards, Lee Harpin, Kyron Sullivan and Craig Williams) starting as favourites. The Welsh Golfing Union will be looking to the younger players to come forward and state their claims for selection. As always in Walker Cup year the challenges ahead will be tough but the rewards are worth the extra effort. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
