Cornwall’s Stephen Jensen was crowned English Senior Men’s Amateur champion for the second time in three years after a competitive final against Leicestershire’s Steve Sansome at Brancepeth Castle on Friday.
In a thrilling match, Jensen looked set to go 5 down on the 10th green, but the 58-year-old produced a remarkable turnaround to win the title on the 18th hole in stunning fashion.
Brancepeth Castle was in great shape as the sun shone brightly and the first two holes of the day saw both make comfortable pars before the first drama came on the 3rd. Jensen went to the left, which led to a search for the ball, and unfortunately, the ball was found in a difficult area short of the three-minute mark, meaning he had to go back. He finally conceded the hole after Sansome twice hit the green.
The fourth saw them split one and Jensen should have been all-square on the 5th after hitting the green, but the Trevose man bogeyed when Sansome, of Birstal GC, hit a bunker and couldn’t get up again. – down.
The long par-5 6th saw them split the other with pars before Sansome won three holes on the spin. Jensen found himself blocked to the left on his 7th shot and couldn’t get up-close for par, and Sansome holed a 12-footer on 8th for birdie. Jensen missed par on the 9th and his playing partner saw his birdie putt nestle right in the cup, and suddenly he was 4 under.
It looked like it was going to be 5-over on 10 when Sansome (Birstall) hit a good shot that left him a 20-foot putt, and Jensen’s shot took a nasty bounce on the mound, hanging right under the fairway. and just sitting in the game. However, in a surprising turn of events, Jensen made a huge bogey to cut the deficit to three holes, as Sansome three-putted.
The 2022 champion then got it back to 2-up as he birdied the 11th when Sansome missed a short putt, and on the 12th, Jensen holed a 15-foot eagle putt with Sansome set for birdie.
MOMENTUM SHIFT
Despite a strong push from Jensen, Sansome stuck to 13 feet for two, but the Cornish golfer produced a stunning 25-foot putt to split it between birdies. Sansome couldn’t get up-and-down on the 14th after a tee shot, and with an all-square play on the 15th, the Leicestershire golfer was three-putted to fall behind for the first time in the match.
Jensen’s shot on 16 rolled behind a tree and he did well to recover from it, and his eagle chip hit the flag before Sansome’s eagle was shy, as the pair moved back between birdies. The 17th saw a lot of play as Jensen found the long stuff in the remaining trees and after two shots to get out, he holed out to Sansome who holed another in the middle, leaving the match all square at 18 down.
Both hit great shots at the last, but Jensen showed his class and composure in his approach, as the ball landed inches from the hole for birdie, and Sansome’s 15-footer popped out to finish the match at 1 up.
Speaking about his win, Jensen commented: “I’m happy to be British champion again, it’s always an honor to be national champion, that’s what we all strive for and I was very lucky to win it twice in the competition.” three years ago.
“I will try hard to reach three out of four next year! It’s one of the highlights of the calendar now and I’m looking forward to trying to defend it at Burhill next year.”
Source link
