Darren Bradford (right) and Mark Phillips celebrate
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The reigning English men’s champions, Mark Phillips (29) and Darren Bradford (28) from Deangate Ridge Golf Club in Rochester, Kent, are the first
International Pairsworld amateur champions. They won the title at the Marriott St Pierre in Chepstow, this week.
The 2003 UK pairs winners – Mark’s handicap is four and Darren’s 11 - held off 23 other pairings from 18 countries to win the Ross Honey Cup.
In a close-fought battle it came down to a 15-foot putt on the final green and Mark, an estate agent, held the key to victory. He rolled it in to claim an aggregate stableford score of 61 points over 27 holes, edging three other teams into a share of second place.
"It’s your proverbial 15 minutes of fame," said Darren, a plant operator. "And how can you explain that to somebody who is yet to experience it. It’s great to be part of it, because we’re all here for one reason: to play golf. But to win it is just wonderful."
He added that the Sky Sports cameras had at first proved intimidating ‘especially for an everyday hacker like me.’
"But we soon forgot the cameras and the spectators. We were UK champions last year so we had some experience of it.
At half way, all eyes were on the pairings from Wales and Belgium who had a total of 40 points for the first half of the second day of competition. But the men from Kent called upon all their experience to clinch the title.
One point separated the first four teams in an event that was reduced to 27 holes after part of the first day was wiped out by a torrential rain.
The winning pair paid tribute to their playing partners in the final round, Judy Gascoigne and Pauline Bramley, from Matlock GC.
"They were really great to go around with," added Mark. "They made it easier for us."
Results: 1, Mark Phillips & Darren Bradford (England) 61pts; 2, Luc Jayankura & Aude Loixe (Belgium), Billy Curley & Alexandra Windbrechtinger (Hungary), Stephen Thomas & Adam Young (Wales) 60; 5, Julia Huber & Oliver Tree (Austria) 57; 6, Tom Black & Stephen Bryden (Northern Ireland), Judy Gascoigne & Pauline Bramley (England) 56; 8, Asbjorn Ramnefjell & Per F Moe (Norway) 55; 9, Robert Hepburn & John Wardrope (Scotland) 54; 10, Guy Rosewarne & Nick Brunt (England) 53; 11, Valery Tarakanov & Dmitry Makarov (Russia), Julio Eduardo Irastorza & Luis Alberto Parodi (Argentina) 52; 13, Greta Barclay & Andy Sheehan (England) 50; 14, Bobby Parish & Wally Nelson (USA) 48; 15, Alison Bann & Thelma Smith (Northern Ireland) 46; 16, Malcolm & Catherine Wilkie (Scotland), Charles & Kevin Forman (Luxembourg) 43; 18, Paul & Rosanna Hawkins (Australia), David Bell & Ray Slattery (Canada), Jack & Carol Naden (New Zealand) 42; 21, Jean Farish & Janet Kinnaird (Scotland) 41; 22, Brynjar Bragson & Bragi Jonson (Iceland) 39; 23, Janice Kerr and Leigh Peplow (England) 37; 24, Jan W. van der Hilst & Fred Boer (Netherlands) 30.
To find out how to register for the 2004 competition call 08700 330 633.
