Champion Conor Conquers Carl
24th May 2015
CGU Amateur Championship Final 2015 Saturday 23rd May 2015 Bude & North Cornwall GC
Conor Wilson is the new name on the trophy as the 24 year old yesterday became the Cornwall Amateur Champion for 2015. In the 36 hole final, played at Bude & North Cornwall GC, Perranporth GC member Wilson (pictured above) defeated a plucky Carl Burley (Trevose) by a 5&3 margin. The scoreline does not give away what was for the most part a very close and keenly contested match.
Shortly before the final was due to commence fog descended over the Bude course and with no appreciable breeze to shift it organisers were forced to delay the start for some 95 minutes before conditions improved sufficiently to enable play. With both players having been at the club since early morning they were as keen as anyone to get to it despite having normal routines interrupted. Play commenced at 1035 and shortly after this the sun made an appearance together with a gentle breeze. This was to be the case for the remainder of the day as perfect golfing conditions ensued.
Burley had played some great golf across the week to reach the final and it was he who got off to the faster start. The less fancied player got quickly into his stride over his county team opponent and the small watching crowd would have been forgiven for thinking a shock could be on the cards. Burley, who felt he had nothing to lose, halved the first hole with Wilson but consecutive birdies at holes 2 and 3 saw him go 2 up very early on. After bogeying the par 3 4th - the spot where Wilson achieved a hole in one earlier in the week - Burley was pegged back but with Wilson finding the bunker off his drive on the 5th and in a horrible lie Burley regained his 2 hole lead with a par.
Immediately Wilson hit back taking the 6th hole before Burley hit his second to a foot on the 7th for a tap in birdie to yet again lead by two. The pair halved the 8th but Wilson got one back at the par 5 9th. Consecutive pars for both at 10 and 11 meant the one hole lead was continued.
When Burley bogeyed the 12th the match was level for the first time since the opening hole. That remained the case for the remaining 6 holes of the round.
At lunch Burley was the happier of the two. he said 'I got off to a good start with a couple of birdies and to win the 5th with a par was a bonus to be 2 up. There was some very good golf out there this morning. I hit what felt like the shot of my life on the difficult par 3 10th which has played really tough all week. The bogey on 12 was a poor shot that ended up buried in the rough on the right. Conor made a great up down on the 15th for a half, and we both birdied 18. I am very happy with the morning. The delay wasn't good as I just wanted to get out there and get on with it.'
Wilson was pleased after his start to be in this position at lunch. 'Carl was up early. feel I could have played better and should myself have been in front by now but there is still a long way to go.'
With conditions remaining warm and sunny the afternoon round got underway at just before 3pm.
The two finalists halved the 1st afternoon hole before Wilson drove the green at the 316 yard second to make birdie and go ahead for the first time in the match. Being ahead did not last long as Burley birdied the third for the second time. Wilson went ahead again at the 4th and with both players birdying the 5th he remained so as they crossed Golf House Road for the last time.
Burley claimed the 6th hole but then a poor greenside chip gifted the 7th to Wilson who went 1 up again. The watching crowd were treated to a further change in the score when Burley hit his tee shot at the par 3 8th to 18 inches to once more bring the match to all square. Halves followed at 9 and 10 before fireworks lit up the par 5 11th. Burley made a birdie 4 there but Wilson rolled in an eagle putt to take a one hole lead.
The 11th hole - the 29th of the final - proved pivotal as Wilson, by now well fired up, then moved on to take 4 holes on the bounce from Burley and in so doing close the match out 5&3.
Wilson was obviously delighted with the win. In his first final he had claimed victory and amongst the earliest congratulations was a call from his father in Canada - he had been watching the live scoring on the internet. Wilson said 'Quite honestly it feels unbelievable. That was tight. I am relieved as I felt the pressure of being the favourite with Carl as the underdog playing so well. In the morning I was disappointed but I just could not get away from him. The afternoon was amazing and I played so much better, possibly even as much as 6 under par in the end. The afternoon started with Carl every bit in the match but I am pleased I have eventually managed to win.'
Burley as losing finalist was nevertheless a winner and was delighted with his week's work. He said 'I am very tired but extremely happy. I had a very very good game with Conor and he was a complete gentleman all the way round. I have exceeded my expectations this week and have played some very good golfers and have learned a lot. I was very happy with the way the final went but in the end Conor just changed gear, I think he was 5 under for the last 7 holes we played.'
CGU President David Inch and Bude GC Captain Rundle Hatcher presented the prizes at a presentation held in warm sunny conditions outside the clubhouse. Hatcher welcomed those present and thanked the CGU for bringing County Week to Bude, something he was proud had taken place during his captaincy of the club. Inch thanked the Bude club for their generous hospitality over a week when no request had been denied and every offer of help made. He thanked the membership for their support of the various competitions both in participating and in starting duties also. He paid tribute to the work of David Walls and all of the staff at the club who had kept everyone fed and watered. He thanked Christy Worthington as Head Greenkeeper for the magnificent condition the course had been presented in and said how much of a joy it had been to play there over the past week. He thanked the referees, Steve Ashby, James Rowland and David Smith for their contribution across the entire week.
Following the presentations County Captain Richard Simmons announced his team for South West Week at Bristol & Clifton GC between 6th and 12th June . The Curtis brothers, Adam and Ryan are both included with the latter making his first appearance at SWCGA level.
The full team is : Conor Wilson, Chris Fleming (Perranporth), Harry Hall, Matt Richards (West Cornwall), Adam Curtis, Ryan Curtis (Bude & N Cornwall), Joe Cruse (St Enodoc), Josh Greenaway (Bowood Park), Richard Jasper (Launceston) and Rob MacGregor (Tehidy Park).
