The 91st Sunningdale Foursomes reached a dramatic conclusion on Friday [March 14] with David Corben and Harry Crockett sealing a improbable 1-up victory over Monty Holcombe and Oscar Lent after discovering themselves two down with three holes to play.
In an all-amateur ultimate with each pairs having performed golf for Surrey, issues appeared bleak for the eventual winners when Holcombe and Lent – from Walton Heath – edged two in entrance on Sunningdale Previous’s par-3 fifteenth gap.
However Corben struck a near-perfect 8-iron to 3 toes on the sixteenth, which allowed Crockett to wash up for birdie, earlier than Lent and Holcombe bogeyed 17 to make sure the match was all sq. heading up the par-4 final.
From there, Lent and Corben discovered the inexperienced in regulation however Holcombe, going through a protracted putt from the entrance of the placing floor, ran his effort 5 toes previous and when Lent missed the returning putt for par, it allowed Corben to wash issues up with a 4 to say a well-known win.
“It feels so emotional,” stated Corben, 37, who performs out of Hindhead. “It was so shut and such a battle however we caught in there and labored so laborious. Shedding wasn’t actually an possibility however we have been in fact up in opposition to it after 15 so it was good to hit that shot into 16 to present us an opportunity.
“Nevertheless, I simply wished to struggle till the top for my enjoying companion. He was distinctive.
“Monty and Oscar are two nice gamers who I’ve bought to know in recent times via enjoying for Surrey. I knew after I first met them that they have been going to be nice gamers and so they confirmed how good they’re in the present day. I’m positive their time will come, however for us it’s so particular to know that we are going to have our identify on the well-known Sunningdale Foursomes winners’ board.”
Crockett, 23, from Addington Palace, who earlier within the match had made two important clutch putts on the seventh and eighth holes to save lots of par with Lent and Holcombe trying like they’d edge away, added: “It feels unimaginable to win this occasion.
“David confirmed his class in these closing holes and it feels very particular. The Foursomes is one among golf’s most well-known tournaments so to win it’s unreal.”
Earlier within the day, Corben and Crockett overcame final yr’s winners and favourites Dylan Shaw-Radford and Harley Smith 1-up of their semi-final. Lent and Holcombe, in the meantime, received by the identical rating in opposition to professionals Harry Walch – representing Quail Hole – and former Walker Cup participant Angus Flanagan (St George’s Hill).
STANDOUT PLAYERS
It proved one other memorable week at Sunningdale, with 128 pairs teeing it up throughout Tuesday’s opening day. In an occasion that’s open to each amateurs and professionals, there have been quite a lot of standout names that drew enormous crowds to the long-lasting Berkshire venue.
Former Tottenham Hotspur, Actual Madrid and Wales legend Gareth Bale was enjoying in his first Sunningdale Foursomes.
He exited within the first spherical with enjoying companion Matthew Wylie, nonetheless, Solheim Cup superstars Charley Hull and Georgia Corridor proved one of many tales of the event, advancing to the final 16 earlier than falling to Tom Shadbolt and Ben Evans 4 & 3.
ABOUT THE FINALISTS
David Corben – Handicap +3.4
Surrey County Champion 2015, 2016, 2019
Surrey County Captain 2014-17, 2022-2024
Harry Crockett – Handicap +5
US Beginner participant 2024
Surrey County Champion 2023
Oscar Lent – Handicap +4.5
England Boys Squad 2024-25
England staff at European Boys 2024
Monty Holcombe – Handicap +4.2
England Boys Squad 2023-24
Received Peter Alliss Trophy 2022
A full checklist of up to date outcomes and scores from the Sunningdale Foursomes will be discovered right here
