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Stiggy sets new Selborne record
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| STIGGY HODGSON |
Fearless golf on a cheerless day earned Stiggy Hodgson a handsome dividend at Blackmoor on Saturday, making him, at 17, the youngest winner of the Selborne Salver.
Fresh from his stirring midweek victory in the McEvoy Trophy, Hodgson, of Sunningdale, carded 68, 65 to win by two strokes from Hendon's Luke Goddard. Even off +3, these were exceptional scores in any conditions, leave alone in the chill wind and rain. His afternoon round contained 14 pars and four birdies, with a back nine of 31 strokes.
Goddard had matched Hodgson's 65 to lead at lunch. With four birdies and no dropped shots, he, like Hodgson, had no score over four on his card, but the magic left him and he could do no better than 70 in the afternoon.
Barely taller than Woosie and nowhere near as wide, Hodgson still hits it out there. But he is also a superb iron player and time and again his approach shots were within a dozen feet of the flag.
His morning featured birdies at the third, seventh, eighth, eleventh and 12th holes, but he shed shots at four holes going out. His 68 was matched by Alex Christie (Tyrrells Wood).
Second at the break was Adam Wainwright, (Gainsborough), who was out in 36, but surged home in 30, with birdies at 11 and 12 and an eagle at the long 13th. No-one else was in red figures.
Playing the course the "wrong way round", Hodgson did the groundwork with birdies in the 12th, 13th and 14th for a half of 31. It might have ben 32, but he holed a devilish downhiller from 15 feet to save par at the 18th.
He salvaged par again at the second, where he was through the back and got lucky when his pitch hit the stick and fetched up a yard away. He reeled off four more pars, all good birdie chances, and then scrambled a par at the tricky seventh.
A comfy four at the long eighth, where he chipped to two feet, was followed by a steely three at the last, his 12-footer for a two and a 64 just staying topside.
"I felt so relaxed out there and didn't think about winning until the last three holes. I knew a 4, 3 finish would do it and I'm really pleased to prove I belong out here in senior golf," said Hodgson, who added: "Blackmoor's a great course and the greens were fantastic."
Liverpool-born, he was not yet three when he first picked up a club. In fact, he found it in a skip, hence that "Stig of the Dump" monicker. At eight, he won the World Junior title, emulating Tiger Woods. When his family moved south in 2002, the young Hodgson joined Sunningdale and was off scratch at 14. An England Boy international and winner of the Daily Telegraph Junior crown last autumn, Hodgson is now eyeing a full England cap and a serious tilt at the big events.
In third place was Miles Mackman (Broome Manor), who added a 67 to his 70, edging out Wainwright, whose afternoon 71 was five shots more than his morning effort.
Pick of the Hampshire players, all 142, were Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor) and Stuart Archibald (Blackmoor), both with 74, 68; Mark Burgess (Blackmoor), 73, 69; and Ryan Henley (Stoneham), 72, 70. Two shots further back was Tom Robson (Rowlands Castle), 73, 71.
Mark Thistleton (Hayling), the defending champion, had an awful time, with 75, 77, but clubmate Toby Burden hit back with a 70 after his earlier 76. Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) also improved, from 75 to 71, as did Mark Bell (Shanklin & Sandown), 79, 71. County captain, Andy Bow (Stoneham), shot 75, 76, a shot clear of Elliot Groves (Dunwood Manor), 79, 73.
For more golf don't miss today's Daily Echo.
7:00am Tuesday 22nd April 2008
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